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Front.  Discussing  the  events  of  the  Holidays. 


DASin\OOD   PRIORY; 


OK, 


MOUTIMER'S    COLLEGE    LIFE. 


K.    J.    MAY, 

AITUOB    Ol'    "LOLIm'S  SCUOOL    DAYS,"    KTC. 


a  ilrbi  (Eliition,  Ellustratrti  bg  3of)n  ©ilbnt. 


LONDON: 
UUUTLKDGE,   AVAllNE,   &   UOUTLEDGE 

r.liOAUWAV,  LUDGATF.  )11LI. , 
M-  W     ^  < )  l;  k  :     ]2 !i.   (i  K  A  N  D    ST  11 V.  liT. 


//7   / 

DASHWOOD   PRIOllY. 

CHAPTER  I. 

"  Accept,  1  beseech  Thee,  the  freewill  offerings  of  my  mouth, 
O  LorJ,  and  teach  me." — Ps.  cxix.  108. 

"  And  they  entered  into  a  covenant,  to  seek  the  Lord  God  of 
their  fathers,  with  all  their  heart  and  with  all  their  soul." — 
2  Chron.  xv.  12. 

If  my  reader  ever  travelled  in  Norfolk,  he  may 
perhaps  remember,  ^vhen  about  sixteen  miles  from 
Norwich,  passing  through  the  pretty  village  of 
Dashwood ;  and  should  he  have  been  detained  in 
front  of  the  "  Mortimer  Arms"  while  the  coach 
convoying  him  changed  horses,  I  shall  be  much 
surprised  if  his  spirit  of  observation  did  not  lead 
him  to  notice  the  little  old  church  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  road,  and  the  pretty  peep  of  the  Priory 
grounds,  which  immediately  adjoin  the  church- 
yard, and  arc  supposed  by  some  antiquarians  to 
have  formed  the  garden  of  a  monastery  attached 
to  the  cliurch,  as  a  small  portion  of  the  Prior}' 
still  stands,  of  the  same  date  and  style  of  archi- 
tecture with  the  clnu'ch. 

It  may  not  be  a  matter  of  fact  to  every  reader 
of  this  book,  that  the  Mortimers,  whose  eiligics 
nearlv    fill    Dashwood     church,    have    from    time 


".■iW..H\ 


2  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

immemorial  been  born  and  buried  in  Dashwood;, 
and  generally  lived  a  respectable  part  of  their 
lives  in  the  Priory. 

About  twenty  years  ago  the  family  mansion 
was  tenanted  by  the  Rev.  Louis  Mortimer  and  his 
family,  and  we  think  we  may  very  safely  assert^ 
that  of  all  the  abbots,  warriors,  country  squires, 
and  M.P.'s,  that  have  from  time  to  time  been 
possessors  of  Dash  wood  and  the  adjacent  village, 
none  has  been  more  beloved,  and  deservedly  so, 
than  this  gentleman,  who,  to  the  position  of  owner 
and  landlord,  added  the  office,  in  his  own  person, 
of  rector  of  the  parish  of  Dashwood. 

The  rain  had  fallen  heavily  one  night  in  July, 
but  as  the  morning  sun  broke  victoriously  through 
the  clouds,  and  scattered  his  broken  rays  in 
gorgeous  and  chastened  hues  on  every  rain-drop, 
or  danced  in  pale  golden  stars  on  each  fresh 
glittering  flower  and  shrub,  the  spiritual  eye 
saw  the  type  of  a  mourner  comforted  ere  his 
tears  are  dried;  his  sorrow,  if  it  be  of  a  godly 
sort,  only  making  him  more  lovely  when  the  sun 
of  righteousness  breaks  through  the  cloud  of 
trouble  to  cheer  his  fainting  soul. 

The  pious  spirit  of  the  young  Christian  had 
drunk  in  the  sacred  lesson  with  the  glorious 
morning  brightness,  as,  roused  by  the  clash  of  the 
church-bells  from  a  light  sleep,  he  stood  at  the 
window  of  his  bed-room  on  the  morning  of  his 
confirmation.  lie  was  not  then  to  begin  his 
acquaiutance   with   a  heavenly   Father;    it    was 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  3 

with  him  an  open  confession  of  the  hope  and 
faith  of  some  years  of  liis  boyhood.  It  was  a 
serious,  but  hardly  an  anxious,  time  with  Louis 
Mortimer,  for  he  knew  well  what  it  was  to  beUeve 
that  a  stronger  arm  than  his  own  held  him  up, 
and  that  it  was  pledged  to  hold  him  for  ever. 
He  had  long  wished  to  be  confirmed,  and  now 
the  joyful,  solemn  time  was  come,  he  hoped  that 
in  this  public  and  sincere  voluntary  acknowledg- 
ment of  his  early  dedication  to  the  Almighty  God, 
new  strength  and  new  help  might  be  given,  to 
rmi  more  patiently  the  race  set  before  him. 

Early  as  was  the  hour,  the  Httle  village  and  its 
environs  appeared  unusually  lively  that  morning. 
The  bustle  of  the  little  householders  all  betokened 
the  advent  of  some  important  event.  As  the 
morning  wore  on,  carts  and  hght  chaises  brought 
into  the  ^^llage  no  small  addition  to  the  popula- 
tion from  the  neighbom-ing  villages.  Between  nine 
and  ten  o'clock,  several  carriages  of  greater  preten- 
sions dashed  up  to  the  "  Mortimer  Arms ;"  and 
as  time  went  on,  quite  a  crowd  was  collected  near 
the  park  attached  to  the  Priory,  to  catch  sight  of 
the  mitred  coach  as  it  swept  through  the  lodge- 
gates,  and  as  they  closed  after  the  coach  the  mass 
of  people  moved  on  to  the  church-yard,  to  see  the 
procession  enter  the  church. 

A  little  after  ten,  a  lf)iig  troop  of  young  people 

])assed  in,  and  a  minute  or  two  after,  -Mr.  Mortimer 

arrived  with  his  eldest  son  Reginald,  a  youth  of 

seventeen,  followed  by  Louis,  and  a  youDg  friend 

B  2 


4  DASH^YOOD    PRIORY. 

and  sclioolfellow,  wl\o  Lad  been  spending  his 
holidays  at  the  Piioiy,  and  had  joined  Louis  and 
his  brother  in  their  preparations  for  this  rite ;  this 
virtual  baptism  of  those  who  are  sincere  in  their 
solemn  profession,  and  Avhich;,  Ave  may  confidently 
hope,  has  proved  tlie  time  when  many  a  dear  child 
of  God  has  been  brought  into  inward  covenant 
with  Him,  and  been  enabled  by  God's  grace  to 
choose  the  Lord  for  his  God,  and  the  Avays  of  the 
Lord  for  his  portion.  "While  ascribing  all  con- 
version to  the  free  grace  of  God,  it  is  not  depend- 
ing too  much  on  ordinances  to  believe  that  He 
who  works  by  means,  should  bless  this  means  to 
the  souls  of  many  of  those  who  are,  as  it  Avere, 
arrested  then  seriously  by  the  question,  "  Hoav 
long  halt  ye  between  two  opinions  ?"  "  Choose 
ye  this  day  Avhom  ye  Avill  serve.  If  the  Lord  be 
God  folloAV  Him;"  "ThevAAdio  seek  God  early 
shall  find  Him ; "  and  a  sincere  and  heartfelt 
dedication  to  Him  must  bring  down  a  blessing. 

There  Avas  one  among  the  three  youths  to  Avhom 
the  truths  of  our  holy  religion  had  been  presented 
for  the  fir«t  time  with  a  personal  distinctness,  and 
this  Avas  the  young  friend  of  the  Mortimers,  Mere- 
dith. He  had  heard  little  of  religion  at  home, 
though  intended  for  the  ministry.  And  though 
at  school  the  doctrines  of  our  faith  had  been  care- 
fully instilled  by  a  pious  master,  lie  Avas  there  but 
one  among  a  number;  here  he  had  felt  a  closeness 
that  obliged  him  to  look  into  himself,  to  inquire 
Avhether  Christ  Jesus  Avere  in  him, — to  see  Avliether 


nvsinvooi)  rnioiiv.  i) 

he  himself  was  l)lanieless  in  never  having  appro- 
priated to  himself  one  warning,  one  promise,  one 
threat.  Two  thirds  of  the  church  were  filled  by 
the  candidates  for  confirmation,  who  were  gathered 
together  as  near  the  communion-table  as  possible, 
to  listen  to  the  few  words  their  dear  pastor  would 
say  to  them  before  they  took  their  places.  The 
little  building  had  been  veiy  tastefully  decorated 
with  flowers  and  evergreens.  ^Ir.  ^Mortimer  ad- 
vanced witli  his  sons  and  ^leredith  to  the  table ; 
and  after  mustering  all  present,  and  seeing  that 
all  were  provided  with  tickets,  addressed  them  in 
a  few  aflcctiouate  words,  reminding  them  of  the 
great  importance  of  the  act  they  were  now  about 
to  perform,  and  of  all  they  had  been  considering 
during  the  late  examination.  He  spoke  of  tlic 
congregation  which  would  there  witness  that  day 
their  solemn  declaration,  and  of  the  unseen  cloud 
of  witnesses,  urging  on  tliem  the  beginning  of 
tliat  race  whicli  should  be  continued  steadily  to 
the  end,  looking  unto  Jesus,  the  Author  and 
FiNisHKR  of  our  faith,  witliout  Wliom  it  is  imjjos- 
siblc  to  be  consistently  persevering.  They  then 
sang  together  the  following  hymn  : — 

"  Power  from  on  liigli,  O  Lord,  iiupiirt ; 
Power  in  Tliy  (Jospel  to  believe  ; 
Power  to  surrender  our  whole  heart ; 
Power  all  Thy  mercy  to  receive. 

"The  Word  to  us  in  vain  were  given  ; 
We  hear,  we  read,  we  learn  in  vain  ; 
In  vain  Tliy  Son  ca)iie  down  from  heaven  ; 
If  Thou  the  Siiirit's  might  restrain. 


D  DASKWOOD    PRIOllV. 

"  Here  be  His  sacred  influence  felt, 

With  searching,  cleansing,  quickening  force ; 
Till  souls  of  millstone-hardness  melt, 
And  flow  like  waters  from  their  soui-ce. 
*'  Convinced  and  humbled  in  the  dust. 
Beneath  the  burden  of  our  guilt, 
AVe  own  Thy  law's  dread  sentence  just. 
But  plead  the  blood  for  pardon  spilt. 
"  Thy  Spirit  witness  with  that  blood, 
And  Christ  our  Saviour  glorify  : 
May  we  as  children  born  of  God, 
AV^ith  rapture,  Abba,  l^'ather  !  cry." 

Mr.  Mortimer  led  the  two  first  verses  himself, 
but  became  so  much  affected  that  he  was  obliged 
to  sign  to  his  curate  to  §nish  it,  and  stood  looking 
at  his  dear  young  people  with  a  heart  overflowing 
with  tender  anxiety  and  affectionate  interest. 

Tlie  young  people  were  all  arranged  in  order  in 
the  pews  nearest  the  communion-table  when  the 
spectators  entered  the  church;  and  a  short  time 
after,  an  increased  murmur  from  the  throng  outside 
told  the  arrival  of  the  bishop.  The  clergymen  went 
out  to  receive  his  lordship,  and  marshalled  him  up 
the  centre  aisle.  As  the  procession  moved  on,  the 
organ  sent  forth  a  solemn,  quiet  strain  of  music ; 
and  when  that  ceased,  one  of  the  clergymen 
present  read  the  sweet  service  of  our  own  dear 
church.  At  length  the  bishop  ascended  the 
pulpit;  and  after  a  short  address,  he  asked  that 
solemn  question  which  begins  the  Confirmation 
Service,  "  Do  ye  here,  in  the  presence  of  God,  and 
of  this  congregation,  renew  the  solemn  promise 
and  vow  that  was  made  in  your  name  at  your 


DASHWOOI)    PKIOUY.  7 

baptism,  ratifying  and  confirming  the  same  in 
your  own  persons,  and  acknowledging  yourselves 
bound  to  believe  and  to  do  all  those  things  Avhich 
your  godfatlicrs  and  godmothers  then  undertook 
for  you  ? " 

There  was  a  slight  pause  ■when  his  Aoice  ceased, 
and  then  arose  an  irregular  sound  of  the  answer, 
"  I  do/'  A  second  time  the  question  was  put, 
that  they  who  had  been  too  timid  to  raise  their 
voices  the  first  time  might  have  an  opportunity 
of  doing  so;  and  this  time  it  seemed  like  one 
voice;  and  what  did  that  one  accord  say?  '^ I  do 
renounce  the  devil  and  all  his  works ; — I  do  re- 
nounce the  pomps  and  vanities  of  this  world,  and 
all  the  sinful  lusts  of  the  flesh ; — /  do  steadfastly 
believe  all  the  articles  of  the  Christian  faith; — 
I  do  intend,  l)y  God^s  gracious  help,  to  keep  his 
holy  will  and  commandments,  and  to  walk  in  the 
same  all  the  days  of  my  life." 

Then  passed  the  white-robed  girls  and  the  long 
line  of  boys ;  and  it  was  a  lovely  sight  to  watch 
the  simple  ceremony  in  its  important  meaning, 
and  sad  to  see  some  careless  faces,  and  to  feci  that 
though  the  same  prayers  had  been  offered,  and 
the  same  exhortation  been  made  in  their  hearing, 
the  same  hands  had  been  laid  on  their  heads, 
they  had  no  part  nor  lot  in  tiie  matter ;  for  the 
heart  was  not  right  in  the  sight  of  God, 

To  the  Priory  party  it  was,  however,  no  light 
time.  When  the  bishop  had  pronounced  the  last 
blessing,  and   their  own  short  petitions  had  been 


8  DASinVOOD    PRIOR Y. 

offered;  tliey  reverentially  left  the  church,  and 
joined  their  friends  at  the  park  gate.  You  might 
easily  guess  how  each  young  person  had  been 
impressed,  by  observing  his  or  her  demeanour  on 
leaving  the  house  of  God.  Some  almost  rushed 
out  of  the  pews,  ran  to  their  friends,  talking 
before  they  Avere  out  of  the  church  doors,  and 
then  laughing  and  quizzing  those  around,  as  if 
they  had  come  from  a  merry-making ;  others 
rather  less  giddy  stood  still,  more  anxious  to 
watch  the  exit  of  the  bisliop  than  to  think  on 
what  had  taken  place  ;  and  some  there  were  who 
quietly  went  home,  and  endeavoured  to  reap  a 
blessing  from  the  consideration  of  the  vows  they 
had  just  publicly  taken  on  them. 

The  bishop  was  going  to  dine  at  the  Priory, 
and  arrived  a  few  minutes  after  the  rest  of  the 
party. 

Meredith  ran  up  to  his  room  as  he  entered  the 
house,  and  Louis  not  caring  to  remain  in  the 
ch'awing-room,  where  his  father  and  mother  were- 
entertaining  the  bishop,  left  the  house  and  saun- 
tered along  the  park  until  he  reached  a  favourite 
spot,  which  liad  been  his  musing  place  from  earlv 
cliildhood.  A  pretty  garden  chair  had  lately  been 
placed  here,  in  lieu  of  the  two  stones  lie  and  Regi- 
nald had  formerly  dragged  under  the  wxeping 
willow;  and  so  completely  was  this  nook,  wliich 
Avcnt  by  the  name  of  "  Louis'  Willow,"  associated 
with  him,  that  it  Avas  almost  as  sacred  to  his  use 
as  his  own  four-walled  room  in-doors. 


DASinVOOI)    I'KIOUV.  0 

This  place  seemed  the  fittest  he  couhl  choose 
when  he  desired^  as  on  this  day,  to  look  back  on 
his  young  life,  and  trace  the  "way  his  God  had  led 
him  ;  all  the  goodness  that  had  guided  his  totter- 
ing steps  in  infancy,  and  made  all  things  Avork 
together  for  his  good.  He  remembered  lying 
here  dreamily  listening  to  the  bells,  and  wonder- 
ing in  which  part  of  him  his  soul  was.  How  often 
had  he  enticed  his  kind  mother  here  to  tell  him  a 
story  or  sing  a  hymn ;  and  insensibly  his  mind 
wandered  on  to  the  dismal  time  when  he  was  left 
alone  with  Mr.  Phillips  at  the  rectory,  while  his 
father  and  mother  wore  abroad,  and  Reginald  at 
school ;  how  he  had  stolen  away  here  to  cry  and 
write  Latin  verses  with  sad  pain  and  grief;  still 
further  liis  thoughts  ran  on,  to  his  desire  of  being 
at  school,  and  his  liard  school-boy  trials,  and  he 
would  thank  God,  whose  love  had  blessed  all  to 
lilni ;  had  made  his  weak  character  strong  to 
glorify  Ilim;  and  the  very  consequences  of  his 
frequent  failings  the  means  of  curing  much  of  his 
unmanly  feebleness.  Then  came  the  immediate 
rcmeinbrance  of  the  vows  jjrofessed  that  day;  and 
he  thought  happily  of  the  prinlege  of  being  a 
[)artakcr  of  the  L(jrd's  Supper,  and  was  beginning 
to  look  again  at  some  passages  of  a  well-read  letter 
he  drew  out  of  his  jacket-pocket,  when  Reginald's 
hands  were  suddenly  [)laced  on  his  shoulders,  and 
he  was  abru[)tly  asked  to  come  and  walk. 

"  Are  you  dreaming  over  Hamilton  V  he  added, 
as  he  ])ieked  U[)  the  letter  which  Louis  iiad  let  fall. 


10  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  I  was  thinking  of  him,  most  certainly.  I 
have  some  reason  to  think  of  him.  What  a  friend 
he  was  to  me !  How  thankful  I  am  he  stayed  so 
long!" 

"  Still,  you  did  very  Avell  Avithout  him  this  last 
year/'  said  Reginald. 

"  It  was  certainly  time  I  should  do  without 
him/'  replied  Louis,  thoughtfully.  "Oh,  Reginald ! 
how  full  my  life  is  of  mercies  !  everywhere  I  look 
I  see  them ;  and  I  tva7it  to  see  them ;  that  I  can 
is  one  of  them." 

"  It  is,"  replied  Reginald  gravely,  "  only  ex- 
cuse me,  Louis,  lest  I  think  you  underrate  your- 
self in  thinking  other  people  such  boons  to 
you." 

"  Never  mind,"  said  Louis  smiling,  "  I  know 
what  a  poor  weak  felloAv  I  am.  You  feel  strong, 
and  so  we  differ.  Hamilton  taught  me  to  despise 
Aveakness  in  myself,  and  to  stand  alone,  more  than 
any  one,  and  he  never  laughed  at  religion  ;  there- 
fore I  will  thank  God  for  him." 

"  You  certainly  owed  something  to  him  when 
you  first  came  to  school, — at  least  in  some  things," 
rejoined  Reginald  ;  "  but  Hamilton  himself  would 
not  have  borne  three  weeks'  punishment  for  Fer- 
rers, as  you  did." 

Louis  coloured,  and  changed  the  subject  by 
putting  his  friend's  letter  into  his  brother's  hand, 
and  begging  him  to  read  it. 

It  was  a  long  one,  and  took  Reginald  some  time 
to  read ;    and,  drawing  his  brother's  arm  in  his 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  11 

own,  he  perused  it  as  they  strolled  through  the 
park. 

"  A  very  nice  letter,  Louis,"  he  said,  as  he  gave 
it  back ;  "  very  much  to  the  point,  as  Hamilton's 
letters  always  are ;  and  very  anxious  about  your 
confirmation,  apparently.  He  is  a  good  fellow. 
I  am  glad  the  bishop  is  here,  for  Meredith.  I 
have  becu  afraid  he  would  be  dull.  I  can't  go 
and  talk  nonsense  T^-ith  him  to-day ; — not  that  he 
always  talks  nonsense  either ;  but  you  know  to- 
day that  I  want  to  try  to  feci  a  little  better, — or, 
as  father  would  say,  not  wilfully  hinder  the  good 
that  may  come  to  me.  Oh,  Louis  !  this  does  not 
look  much  as  if  my  father  had  been  here." 

The  village  seemed  in  a  state  of  excitement,  and 
wore  the  appearance  of  a  holiday,  as  many  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  neighbounng  villages  had  come 
to  the  congregation,  and  remained  to  rest  with 
friends  or  acquaintances  till  it  was  time  to  rcturu. 
Several  young  persons  in  their  Sunday  dress,  the 
girls  in  their  new  confirmation  caps,  stood  in  the 
cottage  gardens,  as  the  brothers  passed,  wliilc 
others  they  met  in  twos  or  threes  walking  up  and 
down  the  road.  Louis  hastily  drew  his  brother 
])ack  into  the  park,  that  they  might  not  seem  to 
countenance  the  giddy  conduct  of  many  before 
them. 

"  T  think  it  will  be  better  not  to  walk  out  of 
the  grounds,  Kcginald  ;  it  will  periiaps  give  a 
h.andle  to  those  people  to  say  that  wc  set  them  a 
l)acl  example." 


12  DASinVOOD    PKIORY. 

"  But  -we  know  that  we  do  not/'  said  Reginald, 
scornfully,  as  a  party,  consisting  of  a  boy  and  two 
gii-ls,  came  by,  laughing  and  screaming  in  a  very 
nnbecoming  manner.  "  I  am  really  astonished, 
after  all  my  father's  efforts,  Louis." 

''  Because  you  forget  he  is  a  man,  Reginald ; 
and,  then,  those  persons  are  not  Dashwood 
people." 

"  But  I  want  to  know  why  we  are  to  be  con- 
demned to  keep  within  the  park-railings,  when 
our  conscien(;es  are  clear  of  anything  but  the 
intention  of  taking  an  innocent  Avalk  ?  " 

"  Are  we  not  commanded  to  avoid  all  appear- 
ance of  evil  ■:■"  said  Louis.  "  Half  the  people  that 
meet  us  cannot  draw  any  distinction  between  our 
quiet  Avalk  and  that  of  the  two  who  have  just 
passed ;  here  our  influence  is  worth  something, 
you  know;  and  I  need  not  tell  you  how  our 
example  may  strengthen  papa's  hands." 

"  You  are  a  veritable  Solomon,  Louis.  I  won- 
der sometimes  Avherc  you  get  your  Avisdom ;  now 
don't  look  grave.  I  did  come  to  have  a  little 
serious  conversation.  Somehow  you  are  really 
the  only  person  I  can  talk  -o-ith.  You  will  hardly 
believe  how  my  mind  wanders.  I  can't  keep  it 
steady  even  for  a  few  minutes  on  what  I  ought, 
and  wish  to  be  thinking  of;  everything  else  comes 
in  turn,  and  the  worst  is  that  I  do  not  really  feel 
anxious  about  it." 

"  God  Himself  must  teach  us  of  Himself,"  said 


DASinVOOl)    I'UIOKY.  13 

Louis,  seriously  ;  "and  then  there  is  no  trouljlc  in 
collecting  our  tlionglits." 

"But,  must  I  not  try?" 

"  Yes ;  but  above  all,  pray  that  God  will  draw 
you,  that  you  may  run  after  Him." 

"  You  cannot  think  how  weakly  I  pray  ;  I  can- 
not think  my  prayers  of  any  use  when  they  are 
mixed  up  with  such  hosts  of  nonsense." 

"Ay,  but  the  incense  of  Christ^s  name  makes 
the  simplest  wish  mighty,"  replied  Louis.  "We 
Want  to  look  more  out  of  ourselves.  Out  of  self 
into  Christ.  To  take  even  our  vain  thoughts,  and 
use  them  as  a  plea  for  obtaining  help.  What  can 
we  do  to  help  ourselves?  I  often  think  of  that 
passage  on  which  Krummachcr  speaks  so  beauti- 
fully— our  Saviour's  question  to  the  disciples  on 
their  way  to  Emmaus,  JFhat  t/iiur/s  ?  Did  He  not 
know  u'liut  t/ii)if/.s  ? — better  far  than  they  them- 
selves, and  therefore  He  led  them  to  unburden 
their  minds,  though  He  knew  beforehand  viliat 
they  needed,  as  it  were,  to  encourage  lis  to  tell 
all  our  wants  to  Jesus.  The  very  telling  is  a 
comfort,  Reginald.  Takt  icith  you  ivords,  they 
may  ])e  feel)le,  but  if  they  come  from  the  heart, 
in  Christ's  name,  tiiey  will  be  acceptable.  The  Lord 
says,  /  will  he  inrjuircd  of  by  this  people.  Draw 
niyh  to  God,  and  He  will  draw  ni(jh  to  you.'' 

"Oil  Louis!"  sighed  Reginald,  "  what  a  happy 
creature  you  are  !     Go  on,  say  something  to  me." 

Louis  repeated  Cowper's  hymn,  "  What  various 


14  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

hindrances,"  and  then  "  Kock  of  ages,"  and  after- 
wards the  eighth  of  Romans;  they  then  became 
quite  silent.  It  has  often  been  remarked  that 
members  of  the  same  family  feel  great  reserve  in 
speaking  on  religious  subjects  to  one  another,  and 
in  a  measure  this  was  the  case  with  the  two 
brothers,  though  more  with  Reginald  than  Louis, 
and  had  they  not  been  accustomed  to  constant 
interchange  of  thought  from  their  cliildhood,  it 
would  have  been  greater.  For  half  an  hour  they 
walked  along  in  silence,  we  will  trust  profitable 
silence,  till  roused  by  the  loud  ringing  of  the 
dressing  bell,  they  separated  to  dress  for  dinner. 
The  bishop  Avas  an  amiable,  pious  man,  and 
assisted  by  the  chastened  tone  of  his  conversation 
the  impressions  of  the  day.  After  dinner  he  left 
the  Priory,  and  the  evening  was  spent  in  singing- 
sacred  music,  till  at  an  early  hour  the  familv  re- 
tired to  rest. 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  15 


CHAPTER  II. 

"  Give  glory  to  the  Lord  your  God,  before  He  cause  darkness, 
and  before  your  feet  stumble  upon  the  dark  mountains,  and 
while  ye  look  for  light,  He  turn  it  into  the  shadow  of  death, 
and  make  it  gross  darkness.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Let  not  the 
wise  man  glory  in  his  wisdom,  neither  let  the  mighty  man  glory 
in  his  might ;  let  not  the  rich  man  glory  in  his  riches  :  but  let 
him  that  glorieth  glory  in  this,  that  he  understandeth  and 
knoweth  Me." — Jeremiah  xiii.  16  ;  ix.  23,  2i. 

It  was  a  summer  evening:,  a  bright,  fair,  peaceful 
evening,  just  after  the  confirmation,  when  a  soh- 
tary  horseman  might  have  been  seen  some  two  or 
three  miles  from  Dashwood,  on  the  Norwich  road. 
He  was  well  mounted,  and  rode  with  that  careless, 
indifferent  air  of  confidence,  that  displayed  his 
familiarity  with  the  exercise, — if  exercise  it  could 
be  called, — that  elicited  so  little  exertion.  The 
reins  were  lying  on  the  horse's  neck,  and  the 
animal  moved  lazily  along  apparently  where  it 
listed,  but,  in  reality,  skilfully,  though  somewhat 
mechanically,  guided  by  the  practised  hand  of  his 
master  through  the  tortuous  way  that  led  to  Dash- 
Avood.  The  rider  was  a  young  man  of  a  slight 
but  perfectly  well-built  and  gentlemanly  figure,  of 
the  middle  size.  There  was  something  undeniably 
aristocratic  in  the  lofty  carriage  of  his  head,  and 
his  easy  air  of  indifFercncc.     He  was  not  strictly 


16  DASHAVOOD    PRIORY. 

handsome ;  and  yet,  Avlien  you  caught  a  full  glimpse 
of  his  liquid  grey  eye,  you  thought  him  beautiful, 
— Avhether  fired  with  the  enthusiasm  of  his  own 
thoughts,  or  gazing  more  frequently  in  thoughtful 
vacancy  into  the  distant  space.  His  face  was 
rather  sunk  and  thin  about  the  cheek-bones ;  but 
its  brilliant  colour,  and  the  animation  of  its  ex- 
pression, contradicted  the  idea  of  ill-health,  while, 
as  he  now  and  then  lifted  his  hat  from  his  head, 
as  a  relief  from  its  warmth  and  Aveight,  in  his 
expansive  forehead,  and  the  dark  silky  hair  usually 
attributed  to  a  nervous  temperament,  the  image 
of  a  lofty  intellect  rose  before  you. 

So  he  rode  on,  seemingly  indifferent  to  all 
around  him,  yet  alive  to  all, — apparently  buried 
in  his  own  meditations,  yet  storing  in  his  mind 
future  food  for  them,  Avhen,  turning  one  of  the 
many  windings  of  the  long  lane,  he  came  suddenly 
upon  a  party  of  cottagers,  consisting  of  a  young 
woman,  who  was  carrying  a  baby,  and  two  older 
children, — one  a  girl  of  about  eight  years  old,  and 
the  other  a  boy  of  about  half  that  age.  This  last, 
— a  great  sturdy  fellow, — was  sitting  in  the  middle 
of  the  road,  crying  passionately,  so  directly  in  the 
rider's  path,  that  he  with  difficulty  checked  the 
horse  in  time  to  prevent  it  from  walking  over  the 
child. 

"  Hallo  !  my  good  woman,"  he  exclaimed,  "  you 
should  take  better  care  of  your  offspring.  What^s 
the  matter  with  the  youngster  V 

The  woman  curtsied,  apologized,  thanked,  and 


Vernon  Digby  on  his  way  to  Uashwood  Pnory. 


DA^inVOOD    PKIOKV.  17 

finally  explained  to  him  that  the  rebellious  youngs 
gentleman  had  been  spending  the  day  uith  her  iu 
the  next  village,  about  three  miles  distant,  and 
now  declared  he  was  too  tired  to  proceed, 

"  Are  not  you  a  pretty  young  fellow  ? "  ex- 
claimed the  gentleman.  "  Get  up  this  instant, 
and  go  on." 

"  I  ti — ed  !  "  roared  the  child,  without  moving. 

"  You  naughty  child  !  "  exclaimed  his  mother, 
taking  his  arm,  and  shaking  him.  "  Get  up ; 
don't  you  see  you'll  be  run  over.  Oh,  sir,  he's  a 
trying  boy ;  and  it's  church  night,  too,  sir,"  she 
continued,  in  a  despairing  tone,  "  and  I'll  never 
get  there  in  time.  Get  up,  David,  or  I'll  tell  your 
father." 

"  Get  up,  sir,  this  instant !  "  cried  the  stranger, 
sternly.  And  the  startled  child  rose,  and,  with 
his  finger  in  his  mouth,  moved  a  few  steps,  only 
to  renew  his  cry  of,  "  I  ti — ed  !  " 

"  Can  you  help  him  here?"  said  the  gentleman, 
after  a  moment's  pause.  "•There — so;  now,  if 
you  cry,  I'll  throw  you  over  the  hedge  ;  do  you 
hear  that  ?  " 

Half  frightened,  and  half  pleased,  the  child  sat 
passively  before  his  new  friend  ;  and,  amid  thaidvs 
from  the  mother,  they  all  proceeded  down  the 
lane, — the  horse  first,  and  the  relations  of  the 
crying  child  behind.  As  the  lane  widened,  tlie 
young  man  slackened  his  pace,  to  accommodate* 
his  humble  companions. 

C 


18  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  Where  am  I  to  put  this  young  man  down  ?  '* 
he  asked. 

"  We  are  going  to  DashAvood,  sii'.  May  be  you 
are  not  going  on  so  far^  sir  ?  " 

"  To  precisely  the  same  place^  my  good  woman : 
so  we  shall  be  compagnons  de  voyage,  I  presume, 
as  far  as  the  limits  of  your  own.^' 

The  woman  looked  very  closely  at  him  as  he 
spoke,  and,  perfectly  conscious  of  the  scrutiny  he 
underwent,  a  slight  smile  curled  the  corners  of 
his  mouth. 

"  You  said  it  was  church  night  ?  "  he  remarked. 
"  What  may  '  church  night '  be  ?  " 

"  The  night  as  we  goes  to  church,"  replied  the 
little  gii'l. 

"  And  is  that  alwaj^s  Wednesday  ?  " 

The  mother  answered  in  the  affirmative. 

"  That's  rather  irregular,  isn't  it  ?  "  said  he  ; 
"  most  people  go  on  Sundays.'' 

"  Ay,  sure,  sir,"  said  the  woman,  quietly ; 
"  and  most  on  'em  goes  on  Wednesdays  too  ; 
only  this  here  naughty  boy  has  hindered  me  to- 
night." 

"  Then  you  put  Wednesday  into  the  bargain  ? 
You  are  pious,  good  sort  of  people  hereabouts, 
I  suppose  ?  " 

"  Bad's  the  best  of  us,  sir,"  said  the  woman,  in 
rather  a  puzzled  manner. 

"  Then,  I  am  sure,  the  best  must  be  my  friend 
David  here,"  added  the  young  man. 


DASIIWOOD    PRIORY.  19 

"  Oh,  law,  sir !  lie^s  a  iiauglity  boy,^'  said  the 
woman. 

"  Very  !     Who  preaches  at  the  chiu'ch  ? '' 

"  Mr.  Mortimer  to-night,  su-.  And  I'm  afraid 
I'm  late,  sir." 

"Well,  that  depends  upon  what  you  call  late; 
and  it  is  a  matter  on  which  I  can  hardly  decide. 
It's  now  exactly  one  quarter  of  an  hour  to  seven, 
which,  considering  all  things,  I  am  disposed  to 
call  rather  good  time." 

"  Quarter  to  seven  !  "  repeated  tlie  woman, 
dcspondingly ;  "  It 's  begun  a  quarter  of  an 
hour." 

"  Well,  we  are  not  very  far  from  the  church 
now,"  said  the  gentleman.  "  Is  David  to  be  taken 
there  ?  " 

"  Oh  no,  sir,  thank  you,  I  must  put  him  to 
bed,  and  my  girl  will  take  care  of  the  baby." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  stand  a  good  chance  of  hear- 
ing the  fag  end  of  the  sermon,"  replied  her  com- 
panion, as  he  drew  in  the  reins  of  his  steed,  and 
good-naturedly  lifted  the  boy  down  to  his  sister, 
who  had  run  on  before,  and  now  stood  at  a  cottage 
to  receive  him.  "  (>ood-by,  David ;  mind  I  hear 
a  1)ctter  account  of  you  when  I  come  this  way 
again." 

"  And  I'm  sure  I'm  much  obliged  to  you,  sir," 
said  the  woman,  with  a  profusion  of  curtsies. 

"  And  I'm  sure  you're  very  welcome,"  he 
replied,  raising  his  hat  in  acknowledgment  of  her 
deep  reverence. 

c  ;2 


20  BASHWOOD    PIUORY. 

"  Well,  sure  !  ' '  she  said,  as  she  stood  watching 
him  canter  down  the  road.  "  He's  a  real  gentle- 
man. I'd  fancy  I  kuow'd  his  face.  I  ivonder  if 
he  be  going  to  the  Priory,  Betsey  ?  " 

As  Betsey  could  not  answer,  the  wondering 
cottager  turned  into  the  house,  and  finding  David 
and  the  baby  both  more  troublesome  than  she 
anticipated,  was  obliged  reluctantly  to  give  up 
her  intention  of  going  to  church  that  night. 

^Meantime  our  hero,  as  if  well  acquainted  with 
the  way,  cantered  along  the  shady  road  till  he 
reached  a  lane  that  led  to  the  church.  One  side 
of  this  lane  was  bounded  by  a  wooden  paling, 
which  divided  it  from  the  park,  and  over  this  the 
thorough-bred  mare  was  easily  persuaded  by  her 
master  to  leap,  and  then  carried  him  quietly 
across  the  park  to  the  house. 

"  I  suppose  every  one  is  at  church,"  said  the 
gentleman  to  himself.  "  But  at  least  there  will 
be  some  one  to  take  care  of  the  premises,  I  pre- 
sume, even  in  Utopia." 

The  noise  of  the  horse's  feet  on  the  gravel  path 
in  the  front  of  the  house  soon  brought  an  answer, 
in  the  guise  of  a  man-servant  at  the  hall  door. 

"  Are  the  family  all  at  church  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  they'll  be  home  at  eight.  "Will  you 
walk  in,  sir,  and  rest  till  church  is  out  ?" 

By  this  time  the  stranger  had  dismounted,  and 
stood  looking  at  the  white-haired  domestic  with  a 
laughing  countenance.  "So  I  am  grown  out  of 
all  recollection,  eh,  Jones'::'" 


DASIIWOOI)     I'KKJUV.  21 

"Indeed,  sir,  1  do  not  recollect  you,"  replied 
tlic  man  respectfully. 

"  Well,  I  recollect  you,  however,  and  many's  the 
time  I  have  given  you  some  reason  to  rcmend)cr 
nie,  years  ago;  years  alter  us  young  folks  more 
than  you  older  ones.  ^Ir.  Keginald  has  not 
returned  to  school  yet  ?" 

"  He  does  not  go  back,  sir,  I  believe.  ^Mr. 
Reginald  has  left  Dr.  "Wilkinson's,  and  Mr.  Louis 
is  to  go  for  another  rear,  I  hear  sav.  They're  all 
at  the  church,  sir ;  aiul  there's  a  young  gentleman 
staying  on  a  visit,  from  Dr.  AVilkinson's,  sir,  a  nice, 
irec-spoken,  merry  young  gentleman,  rather  fond 
of  mischief  or  so.  But  that's  young  blood ;  all 
young  folks  is  alike,  sir ;  Mr.  Reginald's  fond  of 
fun,  sir ;  now  ^Ir.  Louis  and  ]\Iaster  Neville  are 
(|uite  of  another  sort,  and — " 

"And  are  quite  patterns  of  morality,  and  all 
tiiat  sort  of  thing,"  interrupted  the  stranger ; 
"and,  I  suppose,  grown  young  giants  in  length?" 

"  Mr.  Louis  is  very  tall,  sir,  and  so  like  master, 
the  very  image  of  him,  and  likely  to  be  just  such 
another." 

"  Well,  will  you  sec  that  my  horse  is  tak(Mi  can; 
of;  my  luggage  will  be  here  by  the  coach,  aud  I 
will  go  to  tlic  clnu-cli  for  tlio  present." 

"Might  1  make  bold  to  ask  your  name,  sirV" 

"Vernon  Digby,"  replied  the  young  man, 
turning  mischievously  off  as  lie  spoke,  with  a 
speed  that  eilectually  stopped  all  denionstraticms 
of  the  lustonishmcnt  aud   wcleonu-  visible  on  the 


22  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

face  of  the  old  man,  who,  after  advancing  a  few 
steps  from  the  door  in  pursuit  of  him,  satisfied 
himself  with  a  long-drawn  sigh,  and  a  "  Well,  to 
be  sure  \" 

The  hushed  beauty  of  the  home  scenery  around 
was  suited  to  the  young  man's  feelings  at  this 
time,  just  returned  from  the  excitement  and 
activity  of  Cambridge,  where  his  rising  name,  for 
the  last  year  or  two,  had  been  the  en^y  and  admi- 
ration of  every  ambitious  mind,  and  the  pride  of 
his  tutors  and  college.  There  was  in  him  a  rare 
combination,  the  wise  said,  of  genius  and  industry, 
and  the  results  in  human  eye  would  be  splendid. 
To  what  might  they  not  look  forward  from  such 
an  intellect  ?  There  was  nothing  in  which  he  did 
not  excel.  What  cost  others  such  labour  to 
attain,  a  short  period  of  industry  for  him,  and  it 
seemed  beneath  his  feet,  and  another  hill  pre- 
sented itself,  to  be  mounted  as  easily :  yet  though 
his  rising  fame  had  spread  so  widely  in  Cambridge, 
he  was  not  quite  what  is  understood  by  a  "read- 
ing man,"  nor  had  his  success  been  acquired  by 
systematic  cramming.  No  one  more  keenly 
enjoyed  the  healthy  recreations  of  the  University, 
though  want  of  physical  strength  prevented  his 
attaining  to  much  excellence  in  them,  and  a  wine 
or  supper  party  was  considered  a  double  treat  if 
he  formed  one  of  the  number.  Yet  he  was  proud 
and  ambitious,  conscious  of  superiority  though 
disdaining  all  exhibition  of  it.  "  I  do  know  move 
than  some,"  he  once  answered  a  friend ;  "  I  know 


DASnV.OOD    PRIORY.  23 

that  I  know  nothing.  How  much  more  tlicre  is 
to  learn.  AVhat  folly  to  speak  of  learned  vaqil  ! 
we're  all  in  our  cradles  yet^  nian.^' 

I3ut  the  hurry  and  bustle  of  Cambridge  was 
over  for  the  present,  and  the  undergraduate  drew 
a  long  l)reath  after  a  rapid  retrospect  of  the  last 
few  months,  and  stood  still  to  drink  in  tlie  utter 
tranquillity.  His  being  seemed  to  bathe  itself  in 
the  long  golden  streams  of  light  on  the  turf, 
and  the  hush  almost  gave  him  a  sense  of  giddi- 
ness. For  some  moments  not  a  sound  of  any  kind 
reached  his  ears,  and  when  at  length  it  came  it 
was  but  the  low  of  a  cow  and  the  slight  rustle 
of  the  leaves  above  him,  increasing  to  a  rushing 
sound  as  they  bent  to  the  passing  breeze. 

"  And,  after  all,  what  is  it  worth  ? "  he  ex- 
claimed, with  a  long-drawn  sigh.  "  I  am  not 
satisfied,  I  want  more :  a  human  being  never  can 
be  satisfied  in  tliis  existence,"  he  thought;  "he  is 
meant  to  progress.  I  feel  my  existence  is  to 
mount ;  a  world  lies  before  you,  Vernon,  up  ! " 
and  then  a  quiet  smile  a)ul  the  old  thoughtful 
vacancy  stole  over  his  features,  and  he  strolled  on, 
almost  unconsciously,  till  he  reached  the  little 
gate  which  opened  into  tlie  churchyard. 

As  he  laid  his  hand  on  the  latch  a  burst  of 
choral  melody  came  from  the  open  doors  and 
windows  of  the  churcli,  accompanied  by  the 
swelling  sound  of  a  small  organ.  A'crnon  was 
not  unmoved ;  the  sound  was  in  miison  with  the 
calm  beauty  without.     He  i)aused  a  moment  to 


24  DAS^HWOOD    PRIOUY. 

listen^  and  when  the  first  verse  was  conchided,  he 
traversed  the  intervening  space  and  entered  the 
Httle  building. 

Ordinarily,  when  Vernon  Digby  entered  a 
church  his  first  care  was  to  satisfy  himself  as  to 
its  architectural  properties,  but  a  different  feeling- 
somehow  stole  over  him  as  he  stepped  into  this 
^v  ell-filled  place  of  worship — a  feeling  of  rever- 
ence and  solemnity.  Uncovering  his  head,  he 
stood  a  minute  or  two  near  the  door,  till  the  pew- 
opener  beckoned  him  to  the  door  of  a  pew  near. 
Vernon  declined  the  proffered  attention  with  an 
inclination  of  the  head,  and  seated  himself  on  a 
stone  bench,  from  Avhencc  he  could  see  both  the 
pulpit  and  organ-loft.  In  the  latter  he  had  dis- 
covered two  of  his  cousins,  Neville  and  his  great 
friend  and  only  sister  Mary,  and  into  the  former 
]Mr.  ]\Iortimer  just  entered. 

At  first,  in  spite  of  the  earnest  prayer  with 
which  Mr.  Mortimer  prefaced  his  discourse,  Ver- 
non was  much  more  intent  upon  watching  the 
movements  of  the  white  frock  above  him  than  on 
the  sermon ;  but  by  degrees  the  tone  of  his  uncle's 
voice  attracted  him,  and  before  long  his  attention 
was  completely  absorbed  by  the  full  free  Gospel 
declared.  It  was  addressed  to  the  newly  con- 
firmed, on  the  text,  "  My  son,  give  me  thine 
heart."  And  though  Vernon  considered  his  uncle 
rather  extravagant  in  his  notions,  there  was  some- 
thing so  real,  so  joyoiis,  so  elevating,  that  he  felt 
almost  persuaded  to  be  a  Christian !     Oh !  how 


DASHWOOI)     I'KIOItV.  .J;> 

vainly  docs  iiiau  try  to  find  a  substitute  for  tliis; 
liappiucss.  What  a  shadow  is  all  else  !  And 
^'crnou  felt  it  in  his  heart ;  and  yet  he  foi'ced 
down  all  his  convictions  for  the  sake  of  the  vain 
shadows  at  which  he  grasped.  The  sounds  of  the 
preacher's  voice  had  died  away ;  the  little  organist 
led  the  choir  in  their  parting  hymn ;  but  \  ernon 
sat  still, — his  arms  folded,  and  his  eyes  fixed 
vacantly  on  an  old  tomb  before  him,  till  the 
proffer  of  a  hymn-book  from  a  neighbour  roused 
liiin ;  and,  shaking  off  his  absorbtion  with  a  sup- 
pressed sigh,  he  stood  up,  and  gazed  ronnd  the 
church  till  the  Psalm  was  linishcd.  In  a  few 
minutes  the  congregation  had  left  the  ehui'ch, 
and  shortly  after  came  the  Priory  party.  Mr. 
Mortimer  was  first  with  Marj'^  and  Neville;  the 
governess  with  Freddy,  the  youngest  boy,  fol- 
lowed; then  came  Mrs.  Mortimer,  leaning  on  the 
arm  of  a  sweet-looking  delicate  youth,  in  whom 
Vernon  easily  recognized  his  cousin  Lonis,  though 
two  years  had  raised  him  to  a  height  that  almost 
equalled  his  brother's  magnificent  proportions ;  at 
the  same  time  he  was  so  thin,  that  his  clotlies 
hung  on  him  as  if  they  did  not  belong  to  him. 
None  of  the  party  noticed  Vernon,  who  remained 
stationary  till  the  last  couple,  consisting  of  his 
cousin  Ilcginald  and  ^Meredith,  were  passing  him, 
v.hcn  he  started  up.     Reginald  moved  back  a  stc|). 

"  How,  Vernon  !'' 

"  How,  Reginald  !  So  you  intended  to  cut  me, 
too." 


2G  DASIIWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  How  did  you  come  here  ? " 

"  What  an  affectionate  welcome  ! "  said  Vernon. 

"  But,  really,  you  know  we  never  expected  to 
see  you  here  just  yet/'  replied  Reginald,  shaking 
his  hand  vehemently. 

''  Better  and  better,"  ejaculated  Vernon. 

"  But  how  came  you  at  church  ?  Have  you 
been  to  the  house?" 

"  To  be  sure ;  and  quite  frightened  poor  Jones, 
with  my  intimate  recollections  of  him.  The  rea- 
son why  I  came  here  is  because  you  were  here. 
Why,  what  a  stalwart  fellow  you  are  grown :  you 
throw  poor  little  me  quite  into  the  shade." 

"  Poor  little  you,  indeed  ! "  exclaimed  Reginald, 
as  he  stooped  to  latch  the  gate  through  which  they 
had  passed ;  "  JMens  magna  in  corpore  parvo,  a 
multum  in  parvo,  Vernon.  If  ever  I  feel  myself 
great,  it  will  be  when  walking  by  the  side  of 
my  gi'eat  cousin." 

"  Great  fudge  ! "  replied  Vernon.  "  How  d'ye 
do,  ]Mereditli  ?  I  beg  pardon ;  but  you  are  grown 
enough  to  excuse  a  little  remissness  on  my  part 
in  remembering  an  old  school-fellow." 

"  We  are  all  growing  old,"  said  JNIercdith ;  "  but 
if  we  make  as  good  a  use  of  our  yeai's  as  I  hear 
you  do  of  yours,  we  shall  have  no  reason  to  regret 
them." 

"  You  will  have  to  tell  me  all  about  everything," 
said  Reginald ;  "  because  I  am  coming  to  Cam- 
bridge next  October,  having  paid  my  adieu  to 
our  beautiful  school,  I  am  happy  to  say." 


DASinVOOD    PRIOKV.  27 

"  Frank  leaves  the  doctor's,  and  comes  up,  also, 
to  his  great  joy ;  but  I  think  you  may  both  Avish 
to  1)6  at  school  again,  some  day,"  said  Vernon. 

"  That's  -what  all  the  Avise  folks  say,"  said 
Meredith.  "But  did  you  ever  experience  it, 
Digby?" 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  that  I  ever  did.  Some- 
times I  think  of  the  old  times,  and  like  their 
memory  much.  Depend  upon  it,  we  arc  all  hap- 
pier at  school  than  wc  are  aware  of." 

"  Hear,  hear  !  "  cried  Reginald.  "  It  is  an 
established  axiom,  that  we  never  know  the  value 
of  our  blessings  till  we  lose  them ;  but  I  must 
own,  the  value  of  school  life  ought  to  be  doubly 
appreciated,  when  an  embryo  wrangler  conde- 
scends to  regret  it.  But  there  is  mamma  won- 
dering who  wc  have  got.  Hurry,  hurry,  huny, 
hurry  on !  " 

The  van  of  the  party  were  waiting  at  the  hall- 
door,  having  been  already  informed  by  the  butler 
of  \'crnou's  arrival.  As  he  ncared  the  thresliold. 
both  uncle  and  aunt  advanced  to  meet  him,  jMary 
and  Neville  having  arrested  him  a  few  seconds 
before  with  hearty  welcomes.  And  now  lie  was 
led  into  the  drawing-room,  and  installed  on  a 
sofa  between  his  aunt  and  Reginald,  to  hear  news, 
and  to  answer  innumerable  questions,  while  jNIary 
and  licr  favourite  brother  made  and  handed  round 
the  tea.  Then  followed  that  jdcasaiit  time  between 
light  and  dark  ;  and  long  the  li:ipi)y  party  sat, 
never  tired  of  hcaiing   scraps  of  college  stories, 


28  DASH  wool)    PKIOKY. 

nil  Vcruou  challenged  his  eldest  cousin  to  a  race; 
and  leaping  out  of  the  window  at  the  moment, 
both  were  soon  out  of  sight  among  the  dark  trees. 
In  another  ten  minutes  they  returned, — Reginald 
first,  and  Vernon  more  slowly  after  him,  pleading 
his  journey  in  excuse  for  his  want  of  strength. 
The  candles  were  just  brought  in  as  they  entered, 
and  presently  the  servants  were  summoned  for 
prayers.  Hov/  peaceful  and  hallowed  that  little 
service  seemed.  Vernon  did  not  join  in  the  hymn 
which  all  sang;  but  perhaps  his  heart  was  too 
full.  The  lesson  was  the  ninth  of  Jeremiah,  and 
the  prayer  asked  for  the  unfading  treasures  of  the 
Avorld  to  come,  that  all  talent  given  might  be 
used  to  the  glory  of  the  Great  Giver. 

They  separated  for  the  night,  and  Vernon  was 
shoAvn  by  his  cousin  to  his  room,  with  a  kind  hope 
tliat  he  would  sleep  well,  and  soon  recover  from 
his  fatigues.  But  it  was  long  before  he  lay  down 
that  night.  Pie  sat  without  a  candle,  looking  on 
the  dark  star-spangled  sky,  or  the  indefinite  maze 
of  dark  trees  and  shrubs,  till  a  grey  tint  in  the 
east  warned  him  of  approaching  day,  v.hcn  he 
sought  his  bed,  and  slept  soundly  till  long  past 
the  breakfast  hour. 

The  few  days  following  Vernon's  arrival  were 
spent  in  rambles  around  Dashwood,  and  visits  to 
old  haunts,  and  little  family  pic-nics,  in  all  of 
which  Vernon  joined  with  a  zest  that  would  have 
astonished  some  of  his  college  friends,  who  per- 
haps might  hardly  understand  the  simplicity  and 


DASHWOOD     rUlOKY, 


29 


freshness  of  feeling  almost  inseparable  from  true 
ffreatness  of  mind.  Louis  ^vas  soon  to  return  to 
school  alone ;  and  the  day  before  he  went  they 
had  i)l:uiucd  a  raml)le  to  a  1)cautiful  wood  about 
five  miles  distant ;  and  ^'ernou  hearing  that  some 
good  fishing  was  to  be  had  about  a  mile  further, 
proi)oscd  they  sliould  take  their  lunch  and  fish- 
ing-tackle, and  make  a  morning  of  it.  Louis  was 
at  first  rather  averse  to  spending  so  large  a  por- 
tion of  his  last  day  from  home ;  but  his  objections 
being  overruled,  tlic  rods,  bait,  and  sandwiches 
were  packed  up,  and  directly  after  Ijreakfast  the 
live  young  gentlemen  sallied  forth.  They  had  a 
merry  walk  to  the  wood,  and,  after  a  i)roper 
survey  of  its  beauties,  rested  a  little  in  the  shade, 
and  then  proceeded  to  the  mill-stream,  which  pro- 
fessed to  supply  such  good  fisli. 

Louis  never  had  been  able  to  overcome  iiis  sen- 
sibility on  the  subject  of  baiting  the  hook,  his  love 
for  tlie  v.(n-m  going  beyond  that  of  the  old  angler; 
and  Neville  was  content  to  look  on  and  count  the 
successful  captures  of  the  three  anglers.  A'ernon 
Avas  by  far  the  most  expert,  tliough  he  seemed  so 
careless,  and  often  laugluMl  so  merrily,  that  Regi- 
nald scolded  him  for  disturbing  tlicir  sports. 

"Well,  then,  I'll  leave  you  to  solitude,  and  go 
over  yonder." 

"Vvhither?"  asked  Meredith.  "There's  no- 
thing there  but  a  wall  and  water.  ' 

"Nothing?"  said  N'cruon.  "  Do  you  >;•(•  no- 
tlnn.'-r" 


30  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"Nothing,  certainly,"  said  Louis,  "that  you 
can  stand  on." 

"  But  I  see  something  very  substantial  in  the 
sitting  way,  and  a  capital  pool,  with  lots  of  fish." 

"  Why,  you  don^t  mean  to  try  to  sit  upon  that 
spout?"  said  Reginald,  laughing. 

"  Just  the  very  thing,"  replied  Vernon. 

"  Do  you  want  a  cold  bath?"  said  Neville. 

"  Well,  I've  no  objection.  '  I'm  agribble  to 
anything,'  as  the  man  said;  I  am  rather  warm." 

"  But  how  are  you  to  get  there  ?"  asked  Louis. 

"  Where  there's  a  will,  there's  a  way,"  replied 
Vernon,  rather  doubtfully.  "  Eureka  !  Eureka ! 
Eureka ! "  he  exclaimed,  after  a  few  moment's 
cogitation. 

As  he  spoke,  he  caught  hold  of  the  bough  of  an 
ash  that  extended  over  the  stream,  and  having 
previously  fastened  his  fishing  tackle  about  him, 
seized  his  rod  and  threw  himself  on  the  bough, 
swinging  it  up  and  down ;  till  taking  the  spring  at 
the  right  moment,  he  leaped  over  the  stream,  and 
alighted  on  a  narrow  ledge  of  brickwork  on  the 
other  side.  The  mill  Avail  ran  close  up  to  a  con- 
siderable height,  and  there  was  no  other  resting- 
place  for  some  yards  further.  It  was  with  breath- 
less interest,  and  not  entirely  without  apprehen- 
sion, that  Reginald  watched  his  cousin's  descent 
on  the  very  slight  stepping  stone.  He  laid  his 
hand  on  the  bar  of  a  grated  Avindow  near,  and 
then  feeling  safe,  with  a  little  exulting  laugh  raised 
himself  carefully  to  the  spout,  which  had  excited 


DASHWOOD    PKlOliY.  31 

SO  much  longing,  and  balancing  liimself  com- 
fortably astride  on  it,  sat  perched  over  the  stream, 
at  a  height  of  some  ten  feet,  in  all  the  glory  of  a 
deep  pool  below. 

"  Now,  how  do  you  mean  to  get  back  ?"  shouted 
Reginald.     "  You  are  very  clever  to  get  there.''^ 

"I  shan't  trouble  myself  to  come  back  till  I 
am  tired,"  said  Yeruon,  coolly  baiting  his  hook. 
"  I  shall  have  such  sport ;  and  now  I  won't  talk." 
Vernon  felt  there  was  some  reason  not  to  talk, 
for  the  truth  was  his  prized  seat  was  betraying 
him,  being  half  covered  with  moss  and  very 
slippery.  It  had  been  all  very  well  as  long  as  he 
sat  quite  still  on  the  small  horizontal  portion 
■which  jutted  from  the  interior  of  the  mill,  but  a 
little  motion  in  throwing  his  line  had  displaced 
him,  and  in  vain  he  put  his  hand  behind  him, 
and  tried  not  to  look  foolish,  or  to  acknowledge 
his  precarious  situation.  Reginald  was  hooking 
a  fine  roach,  Avhen  a  laugh  and  loud  halloo  drew 
his  attention ;  "  Here  goes  a  large  bait !  The 
fish  '11  get  me  !  Ahoy  there,  Reginald  ! "  and  he 
looked  up  in  time  to  see  his  cousin's  rod  first  fall, 
and  then  the  owner  slip  swiftly  oti"  the  treacherous 
spout  after  it,  with  both  hands  behind  him,  in  a 
vain  attempt  to  stay  his  descent.  Plump  !  splash  ! 
It  was  almost  too  deep  for  a  laugh,  but  the  mill 
was  not  working.  Reginald  shouted  for  help, 
and  was  throwing  off  his  coat  to  plunge  in  to 
Vernon's  assistance,  when  the  missing  one  who 
had  disappeared  from  tlie  height  of  the  fall,  now 


32  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

rose  above  the  water^  and  striking  out^  reached  the 
land  near  his  companions,  and  climbed  up  the 
bank  before  they  had  well  understood  the  matter. 
Wlien  he  was  safely  landed,  he  first  shook  himself 
after  the  fashion  of  a  Newfoundland  dog,  and  then 
indulged  in  a  hearty  fit  of  laughter,  in  which  his 
friends  now  joined. 

"  You  see  y6u  need  not  have  troubled  yourself 
about  my  return,  I  am  back  again  as  quick  as 
thought." 

"And  now,"  exclaimed  Reginald,  "you  spoil- 
sport, you  thorough-bred,  noisy,  unsportmanlike 
bather.  I  suppose  we  must  pack  up  and  return 
home  for  your  benefit." 

"  Sit  down  and  go  on  fishing,"  replied  Vernon. 
"  1^11  walk  about  in  the  sun,  and  then  I  shall  be 
as  dry  as  a  bone." 

"  I  dare  say,"  said  Meredith.  "  But  we  are 
not  so  wrapped  up  in  our  sport  as  to  kill  you  for 
love  of  it." 

"  I  am  not  so  easily  killed,"  answered  Vernon. 
"  I  won^t  go  home." 

"Indeed  you  shall,"  exclaimed  Reginald. 

"  Now,  you  know  I  may  be  led,  ]Mr.  Reginald, 
but  never  driven,"  said  Vernon.  "  If  you  behave 
like  good  men,  and  pursue  your  sport  with  due 
decorum,  1^11  walk  to  the  mill  and  get  dry.  They 
will  lend  me  a  fustian  suit  '  for  a  consideration,* 
and  then  I  will  come  to  you." 

"  Well,  if  you  will  promise  that — " 

"  I'll  go  Avith  you,  Vernon,"  said  Neville. 


BASinVOOD    PIUORY.  33 

"  How  are  you  to  get  across?^'  asked  Veruoii. 

"  Oil !  there's  a  Ijridge  round  that  corner,"  re- 
phed  Xevillc  ;  "  I  will  show  it  to  you." 

"  I  am  not  fond  of  long  ways,"  said  Vernon, 
"  and  as  I  am  wet,  I  don't  mind  branng  the  wave 
once  more,  especially  as  my  hat  is  s\\imming  so 
conveniently  for  catching,  on  the  water  opposite." 

He  threw  off  his  coat  as  he  spoke,  and  begging 
Neville  to  drag  it  round  for  him,  leaped  as  far  as 
he  could  into  the  stream,  and  directed  his  coui'sc 
primarily  to  his  hat,  and  finally  to  the  landing- 
place,  which  was  a  few  yards  distant  from  his  old 
station. 

"  How  active  he  is,"  remarked  Meredith,  ad- 
miringly, as  he  watched  him  climb  the  bank.  He 
gave  them  a  farewell  "  Hurrah,"  and  walked 
rapidly  away. 

"  H*e  's  a  giddy  fellow,"  said  Reginald :  "  I 
never  knew  any  one  laugh  as  much  as  he  does 
when  he  gets  in  these  humours ;  no  one  would 
fancy  he  could  be  grave.  Frank  docs  not  laugh 
so  much  as  Vernon,  though  he  makes  others  laugh 
more." 

"  It  is  a  good  thing  for  his  brain  that  ho  can 
relax  so  much,"  said  Meredith.  "  ]Jut  hush  ! 
here's  a  fine  fellow."  The  two  friends  sat  silently 
pursuing  their  sport,  while  Louis  nmsed  or  read 
under  a  shady  beecli,  whither  he  had  imported  a 
low  camp-stool.  Half  an  hour  cla|)scd,  when 
NeviUc  came  ruuTiing  up  breathless  and  furiously 
lieatcd. 


34  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  I  can^t  make  out  where  Yernoii  is.  Which 
way  did  he  tui-n  ?  I  have  been  to  the  house  and 
inquired  for  him  ;  his  coat  is  dry  now,  but  no  one 
knows  anything  of  him.  I  have  been  running 
and  calling  in  every  direction  nearly  all  this  time. 
AVhat  can  have  become  of  him?" 

"It's  queer,"  said  Meredith,  looking  at  Reginald. 

"  He's  big  enough  to  take  care  of  himself,'^  said 
Beginald. 

"  What's  the  matter?"  asked  Louis.  "  Vernon 
lost?" 

jSTeville  repeated  his  story,  and  exhibited  the 
dry  coat. 

"  But  perhaps  he  got  there  after  you  left  the 
house  ?  " 

"  I  have  just  come  from  it,"  repHed  Neville. 
"  I  thought  he  might  be  there,  and  ran  back  to 
see,  just  before  I  came  here.'* 

"There  he  is!"  exclaimed  Meredith,  pointing 
across  the  water.  And  sure  enough  there  he  was, 
without  his  coat,  running  to  the  water's  edge. 

"  Reginald  !  Meredith  !  Louis  !  '*  he  shouted, 
"come  and  look  at  this  machinery.  Here's  a 
most  interesting  saAV-mill.  It  is  worth  looking 
at ;  come  round.  Oh,  Neville  !  bring  ray  coat, 
that's  a  good  fellow." 

The  youths  set  off  running,  and  were  met  at 
the  bridge  by  Vernon,  who  laughed  at  Neville's 
fruitless  search,  and  led  the  way  down  a  little 
hollow  to  a  kind  of  workshop,  where  under  a  roof 
revolved  the  ckcular   mill   which   had   charmed 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  35 

liim  so  much.  Ouce  again  here,  and  there  seemed 
to  l)e  no  getting  him  away.  He  exhibited  all  its 
points  to  liis  friends,  and  suggested  certain  im- 
provements to  the  men;  then  he  wanted  to  go 
over  the  flour-mill  adjoining,  when  Neville  acci- 
dentally touched  him. 

"  Oh,  Vernon,  you  arc  quite  wet !  You  have 
never  been  to  the  house." 

"  No ;  I  have  been  better  employed,"  replied  he. 

"  You  are  very  wrong,"  exclaimed  Neville : 
"  you  will  get  a  terrible  cold." 

"  Pshaw  !  a  wetting  hurts  no  one  as  long  as  he 
keeps  in  motion.  Look  here,  Reginald,  I  want  to 
show  you  this  eccentric.  It  draws  the  log  gra- 
dually along  across  the  saw,  without  the  least 
trouble  to  the  men.  You  did  not  expect  to  find 
such  an  invention  here.  The  artist  is  only  a  com- 
mon workman.  "\Vc  must  look  over  the  mill ;  see, 
Keginald,  this  gear  is  attached  to  the  flour-mill : 
I  want  to  look  over  that  with  you." 

"You  must  not,  Vernon!"  exclaimed  Neville, 
energetically.  "  Reginald,  do  not  let  him ;  make 
him  come  home." 

"  I  am  almost  dry  now,"  said  Vernon,  care- 
lessly. "  Reginald,  1  want  them  to  have  an 
hydraulic  engine." 

"  I  won't  hear  any  more  of  hydraulics  or  hy- 
drostatics, or  any  otlicr  ics  now,"  said  Reginald. 
"  You  must  be  pleased  to  come  home." 

"Immediately.     Rut  just  see " 

"  Vernon,  you  are  very  wrong,"  cxclaimea 
D  2 


36  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

Neville.  "  It  is  quite  sinful  to  trifle  with  your 
health.  You  know  as  m  ell  as  any  one  what  the 
consequences  of  such  a  wetting  may  be,  though 
you  treat  it  so  lightly.  Vernon,  do  be  persuaded 
to  come  home,  or,  at  least,  to  go  into  tlie  mill- 
house  ;  but  a  brisk  walk  will  he  the  best  for  you 
now.  It  is  really  too  serious :  you  are  trifling 
with  danger,  Vernon." 

"  'Oh,  dear  discretion  !  how  liis  words  .are  suited,'  " 

exclaimed  Vernon,  laughing. 

"  '  The  lot/  hath  planted  in  liis  memory 
An  army  of  good  words.' 

I  cannot  withstand  such  a  torrent  of  eloquence. 
Come,  Reginald,  let's  go.  I  shall  be  dry  before 
Ave  reach  home ;  so  much  the  better ;  it  will 
save  trouble.  Come,  let  us  see  who  will  get 
to  the  Priory  first.  We  will  come  and  make 
a  survey  to-morrow,  Reginald.  Ah,  Reginald  ! 
Oh,  Neville  !  You  have  made  me  despise  my  own 
rule, — '  Not  to  leave  till  to-morrow  what  may  be 
done  to-day.'  Fools  look  after  to-morrow ;  wise 
men  take  care  of  to-day." 

He  put  on  his  coat,  and,  challenging  them  to 
a  race,  they  all  set  ofl:"  full  speed ;  and  running 
much,  and  walking  a  little,  they  reached  home 
in  an  hour.  Vernon's  persuasiveness,  at  least, 
was  perhaps  owing  more  to  a  sense  of  shivering 
than  to  Neville's  powers  of  rhetoric  ;  but  he  was 
tolerably  warm  when  they  reached  the  Priory, 
and  all  bad  effects  might  have  been  averted,  had 
he  taken  care  then.     He  retired  to  his  own  ]  oora 


DASHWOOI)    PKIOUV.  ST' 

directly,  Avitli  urgent  requests  from  all  that  he 
Avould  immediately  change  liis  things,  and  take 
care  of  himself.  ^Mrs.  Mortimer,  who  in  vain 
in*ged  liis  going  at  once  to  bed,  went  upstairs 
lier§elf  with  him,  to  see  that  the  window  Avas 
shut,  and,  in  spite  of  his  laughing  remonstrance 
that  he  was  so  hot  he  could  hardly  breathe,  he 
promised  to  keep  it  shut.  lie  did  not  descend 
for  more  than  an  hour  afterwards  ;  but  Mrs. 
!Mortimer  anxiously  noticed  his  pallid  face  to 
liim  in  the  course  of  the  evening.  She  might 
have  noticed  more,  had  she  not  been  much  taken 
up  Avith  some  little  preparations  for  Louis,  who 
was  to  set  off  for  Bristol  the  next  morning  at 
half-past  four. 


38  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 


CHAPTER  III. 

"  What  evil  eye  can  entrance  win, 
Where  guards  lilce  these  abound  ? 
If  chance  some  heedless  heart  should  roam. 
Sure  thought  of  these  will  lure  it  home, 
Ere  lost  in  Folly's  round." 

Christian  Year. 

Meredith  was  so  very  averse  to  leaving  the  care 
of  Mr.  Mortimer,  that  he  persuaded  his  father  to 
make  arrangements  for  him  to  read  for  the  next 
six  months  with  Mr.  Phillips,  preparatory  to  his 
matriculating  at  Cambridge.  This  arrangement 
was  particularly  delightful  to  liim,  as  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mortimer  were  very  glad  that  he  should 
spend  all  his  spare  time  at  the  Priory,  his  affec- 
tionate attention  to  them  having  won  their  love, 
and  made  tlicm  very  desirous  to  strengthen  in 
him  every  good  impression  he  appeared  to  have 
received  while  with  them.  It  must  he  confessed 
that,  though  Louis  had  arrived  at  the  mature  age 
of  sixteen,  he  felt  more  than  usually  lonely  at 
leaving  home  this  time.  INIany  of  his  old  friends 
had  left  school,  and  among  them  his  dearest 
Reginald ;  and  the  night  travelling  did  not  tend 
to  dissipate  the  gloom  of  his  spirits  as  he  drew 
near  his  journey's  end.  The  coach  drew  up  at 
the  door  of  a  large  house  by  the  roadside,  a  few 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  3i> 

miles  from  Bristol,  Avlicrc  he  uas  iimtcd  to  spend 
the  liight,  iu  order  to  accompany  one  of  his 
schoolfellows  back  to  Dr.  A\'iikinson's.  The 
coachman  had  put  down  liis  luggage  and  driven 
off,  and  the  gate-bell  had  been  rung  two  or  three 
times,  when  a  sen'ant  appeaa'cd  in  great  haste, 
and,  Avith  many  apologies  for  keeping  him  wait- 
ing, ushered  him  to  the  house,  and  throwing 
open  the  door  of  a  room  on  one  side  of  the  hall, 
begged  him  to  walk  in,  while  she  went  to  call 
another  servant  to  fetch  his  trunk. 

"  They  hardly  seem  to  expect  me,"  thought 
Louis,  as  he  scrutinized  the  room  to  see  what  sort 
of  people  Salis]3ury^s  relations  were. 

It  was  not  certainly  so  elegant  as  Dashwood, 
being  nothing  jnorc  or  less  than  a  lofty  square 
room,  of  very  modern  description,  with  three  large 
sash  windows  at  one  side,  nearly  covered  by  large 
muslin  curtains.  In  one,  where  the  drapery  had 
been  carelessly  pushed  aside,  stood  a  small  taljle 
covered  with  ladies'  work,  and  surrounded  with 
chairs  and  stools.  On  one  ottoman  lay  a  couple 
of  dilapidated  dolls,  and  orj  a  large  table  near 
Louis  a  sextant,  case  of  mathematical  instruments, 
and  an  open  work  on  navigation.  The  piano  was 
0})cn,  and  littered  witli  music.  Near  it,  on  a  low 
chair,  lay  a  guitar,  the  long  ribbon  of  which  was 
affording  much  amusement  to  a  young  kitteji. 
Louis  was  left  alone  some  minutes,  and  had  fully 
time  to  discover,  from  names  inscribed  on  books, 
and  Avork,  and  tovs,  that  Frederick  8alisl)urv,  liis 


40  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

old  schoolfellow,  owned  "Norie's  Navigation," 
and  his  sisters,  Edith,  Caroline,  and  Fanny,  the 
emptied  portfolios  of  music,  before  his  medi- 
tations were  disturbed  by  the  entrance  of  the 
brother,  Avho  was  to  be  under  his  escort  the  next 
day.  He  stood  still  at  the  door,  looked  surprised 
and  shy,  and  finally  began  in  a  low  tone,  "  Oh, 
^tisn't  Burton: — what  an  awful  mistake  Jane 
made  ! " 

"  My  name  is  Mortimer,"  said  Louis  advancing. 
"  Oh,  you're  Louis  Mortimer  ! "  rephed  the 
young  gentleman,  coming  up  and  holding  out  his 
hand.  "I  thought  you  were  coming  at  eight. 
You've  been  kept  an  awful  time  by  yourself;  we're 
so  awfully  busy  to-day,  what  with  the  packing  up 
and  all." 

"Where  are  your  brothers?"  asked  Louis 
quietly.  "  They  are  not  packing  up,  I  suppose  V 
"Come  along,  will  you,  and  see.  The  girls 
won't  let  Fred  come  down,  so  I've  come  down  to 
bring  you  up.  They  thought  it  was  another 
fellow ;  but  it's  all  the  same.  I  dare  say  they'll 
say  I'm  awfully  rude,  but  they'll  make  it  all 
straight." 

Louis  was  not  much  impressed  by  this  specimen 

of  his  future  protege;   he  followed  him  quietly 

upstairs,   and  on  the  way   made  some  inquiries 

•especting  one  of  his  brothers,  who  was  now  a 

cadet  in  India. 

Ethelred  informed   him   that  John  was   very' 
jolly,  and  all  that,"  "  longing  for  a  fight ;"  and 


DASmVOOD    PIUOHY,  41 

that  ''  mamma  was  as  frightened  as  anything." 
At  this  juncture  tlicy  arrived  at  their  jour- 
ney's end,  and  opening  a  bedroom  door,  the 
young  gentleman  shouted  out,  "  Enter  Louis 
^lortimer,  Esq/' 

The  bedroom  into  which  Louis  entered  was 
littered  from  one  end  to  the  other  witli  trunks, 
clothes,  books,  and  other  et  ceteras,  and  on  the 
foot  of  a  bed  sat  Salisbury,  Avithout  his  coat, 
playing  "The  girl  I  left  behind  me,"  very 
miserably,  on  a  piccolo.  A  pretty  laughing  girl 
of  tliirteen  or  fourteen  sat  beside  him,  stitching 
away  at  something,  and  two  others,  whose  long 
curls  hid  their  faces,  were  kneeling  at  a  trunk  in 
front  packing  ver\'  diligently,  while  at  the  further 
end  of  the  room  Charles  was  calling  the  names  of 
the  articles  from  a  long  inventory.  Two  little 
girls  of  about  six  and  seven  years  old,  who  were 
standing  at  Fred's  knee  listening  with  great 
admiration  to  his  playing,  completed  the  tableau. 
On  Louis'  entrance  Salisbury  jumped  up  and  over 
the  trunk  in  front  of  him,  and  welcomed  him  very 
heartily. 

"Why,  it's  Louis  himself!  A  great  shame  to 
send  for  you  to  come  to  such  a  place,  Louis :  but 
the  fact  is,  the  sersant  announced  anotli(>r  fri(Mid. 
A  summons  came  for  me  yesterday  to  join  my 
ship  to-mon'ow  at  Plymouth,  and  as  she's  ordered 
off  to  Cliina,  we've  heaps  to  do.  1  know,  old 
fellow,  you  don't  stand  on  trifles,  ami  won't  be 
very  angry  at   Ethelrcd's  nulencss    on    such  au 


4^  DASHWOOD    rRIORY. 

occasion.  Look  here,  these  beauties  are  all 
frantic  if  I  leave  the  room  for  a  minute ;  and  so 
Ethelred  was  desired  to  ask  Burton,  not  you,  to 
our  '  chaos  Averse  confounded '  than  usual." 

"  Don't  apologize,"  said  Louis.  "  And  are  you 
really  going  for  so  long  a  time  ?  I  do  not  Ts-(mder 
your  sisters  can  hardly  spare  you." 

"  And  now  I  must  introduce  you :  there  are 
such  lots  of  them,  I  shall  be  lucky  if  I  remember 
their  names  right.  ]\Iy  friend  and  schoolfellow 
Mr.  Louis  INIortimcr,  ladies;"  and  Salisbury, 
turned  to  his  laughing,  blushing  sisters,  who  had 
risen  on  Louis'  entrance,  "  jNIisses  Caroline  and 
Elizabeth  Salisbury,  the  best  packers  in  Christen- 
dom :  Miss  Fanny,  the  gii'l  what  doesn't  mind  a 
brotherly  thump  sometimes,  when  her  old  Fred's 
afflicted  with  an  accumulation  of  sensorial  power, 
as  the  books  say ;  and  here,"  he  continued,  lifting 
one  of  the  little  ones,  "  are  Kate  and  ]Marianne ; 
I  don't  know  of  what  use  they  are,  except  to  leave 
their  toys  about,  and  get  the  brothers  the  credit 
of  breaking  them.  They  know  we  don't  care 
about  them  a  bit." 

"But  you  do,  though,"  said  the  little  one, 
squeezing  his  face  between  her  hands. 

"  Do,  though,  indeed  !  But,  my  dear  fellow,  you 
are  hungry,  or  tired,  or  something." 

"  Rather  tired,  but  not  hungry,"  replied  Louis; 
"  and  not  too  tired  to  enjoy  seeing  you  among 
your  kind  sisters,  whom  I  liope  I  shall  know 
better  soon.     I  have  only  one,  you  know ;  Ijut  I 


DASHWOOD    PIUOKY.  43 

love  licr  well  enough  to  understand  how  ricli  you 
arc  in  live  times  the  number." 

"  Five  ! — you  haven't  seen  half  of  them  yet." 

"  Oh,  Fred  !  "  exclaimed  Fanny,  laughing. 
''Half! — no,  he  hasn't.  Do  you  suppose,  little 
ladies,  that  all  of  you  together  are  equal  to  the 
'Swan's  Neck?'  Here  she  comes! — my  eldest 
sister  Edith,  called  Swan's  Neck  for  her  beauty." 

"  lically,  Fred,  you  are  taking  advantage  of 
your  license  to-day,  I  think,"  said  the  last- 
mentioned  young  lady,  mIio  entered  with  her 
mother  at  the  moment. 

"  My  mother,  JMortimer.  There  isn't  a  mother 
of  them  all  can  come  up  to  mine  ;  not  even  yours, 
Mortimer." 

"  At  any  rate,"  replied  Mrs.  Salisbury,  "  'Mrs. 
^Mortimer  would,  I  am  sure,  wish  you  to  think 
so ;  but  we  will  excuse  her  son  from  lacing 
obliged  to  hold  the  same  opinion.  ]My  dear  ]\Ir. 
]\Iortimer,  I  am  quite  ashamed  of  the  welcome 
you  have  received,  in  return  for  your  kindness  in 
coming  to  take  charge  of  my  boy.  I  have  only 
just  heard  that  you  were  here,  and  should  not 
have  imagined  my  young  ])cople  would  have 
brought  you  uj)  tired  to  this  uncomfortable 
room." 

"  I  was  just  asking  him  if  he  was  tired, 
mamma,"  said  her  eldest  son. 

"Wcnccd  ask  no  questions,  I  tliiuk,"  replied 
his  mother,  shaking  her  head,  and,  leading  Loui*^ 
out  of  the  room,   she  showed  him   into  another 


44  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

neatly  arranged  for  liis  nse;  and  after  assuring 
herself  that  his  luggage  was  iq),  left  him  to  make 
his  preparations  for  tea. 

Om*  friend  Lonis^  as  we  know  of  old,  not  being 
of  a  very  boisterous  turn,  was  not  sorry  to  rest 
a  few  minutes  in  peace  after  his  long  journey, 
though  he  had  been  both  amused  and  interested 
by  his  introduction  to  his  friend^s  family,  which 
Reginald  had  always  lauded  as  the  most  pleasant 
possible  for  holiday  time.  Before  very  long,  a 
gentle  tap  at  the  door  preluded  the  announce- 
ment that  tea  was  quite  ready ;  and,  on  opening 
the  door,  Louis  found  Fanny  and  a  little  brother 
waiting  to  show  him  the  way  down. 

Fanny  led  the  way  rather  shyly,  and  just  as 
they  reached  the  hall,  said,  "  I  am  afraid  you 
will  think  us  all  very  rude ;  but  we  did  not  expect 
you  quite  so  soon.  You  did  not  come  by  the 
London  coach,  I  think  ? " 

"  No,  I  did  not,"  replied  Louis  ;  "  I  came  fi-om 
Gloucester." 

"  The  London  coach  does  not  come  in  till 
eight ;  and  wc  thought  all  our  packing  would  be 
done  -by  that  time.  Jane  announced  an  intimate 
friend  of  the  boys,  who  lives  quite  close,  and 
comes  in  very  often.  If  wc  had  known  who  it 
Avas,  we  should  not  have  asked  you  to  come  up, 
at  least  not  till  you  were  rested." 

Her  little  merry  face  looked  so  apologetic,  that 
Louis  felt  quite  sorry  for  her. 

"  You  must  not  think  any  more  of  it,"  said  he, 


DASIIWOOD    PIUOKY.  45 

as  he  made  way  for  her  to  enter  the  dining-room  : 
"  your  brothers  are  okl  friends  of  mine,  and  we 
should  never  stand  on  ceremony  with  each  other. 
I  never  like  being  treated  as  a  stranger,  Miss 
Fanny." 

AVhcn  Louis  arrived  in  the  dining-room,  he 
found  the  table  covered  with  a  white  cloth,  and 
kid  out  most  hospitably  Avith  tea,  fruit,  eggs,  and 
cold  meat.  The  large  bow  window  was  wide  open, 
and  the  two  little  girls  were  seated  there  at  a 
little  table,  a  place  being  reserved  there  for 
Fanny's  companion.  Fred's  father,  a  fine  portly- 
looking  gentleman,  as  benevolent  and  prepossess- 
ing in  appearance  as  his  mother,  came  forward, 
and  shaking  Louis  by  both  hands,  Avclcomed  him 
to  his  house. 

"  I  am  afraid  you  must  want  dinner,  ^Iv.  ]\Ior- 
timcr,"  said  Mrs.  Salisbury.  "  We  were  so  con- 
fidently assured  by  our  boys  that  you  would  come 
by  the  London  coach,  or  avc  would  ha\c  suited 
our  dinner  hour  to  you." 

Louis  assured  her  again  and  again  that  ample 
dinner  was  provided  for  his  wants,  and  presently 
did  justice  to  the  cheer  before  him.  His  gentle- 
ness and  sweetness  of  manner  prepossessed  all  the 
party  immediately  in  his  favour,  and  nothing 
could  exceed  the  attention  paid  to  his  wants  by 
the  greater  part  of  the  family,  though  it  was  very 
evident  that  there  was  one  overpowering  con- 
sideration present  with  them  all,  that  now  and 
then  checked  the  detcrniination  to  be  nicrrv. 


46  DASH  WOOD    PRIORY. 

"  We  feel  it  exceedingly  kind  of  you,  Mr.  Mor- 
timer/' said  INIrs.  Salisbury,  "to  promise  to  look 
after  our  poor  little  boy.  He  lias  been  so  delicate, 
poor  little  fellow,  that  I  am  afraid  he  is  now 
hardly  fit  for  school;  but  really,  I  suppose  it  is 
time  he  Avcnt." 

"High  time,"  said  the  father.  "The  fact  is, 
Mr.  Mortimer,  he  is  a  spoilt  boy,  and  if  Dr.  Wil- 
kinson can  unspoil  him,  he  will  do  a  good  deed. 
That's  the  way  we  parents  always  do :  we  spoil 
our  children,  and  then  leave  the  master  to  mend 
them  for  us.  Rather  hard  upon  the  masters,  I 
think." 

"  I  think  so  too,  when  it  is  the  case,"  said  Louis^ 
smiling. 

When  tea  was  over,  the  elder  ones  withdi'ew  to 
the  drawing-room  to  have  some  music,  by  Fred's 
especial  request.  Mrs.  Salisbury  made  a  place 
for  Louis  on  the  sofa,  and  her  dear  eldest  boy 
drew  a  Ioav  ottoman  near  her,  and  seating  himself 
thereon,  leaned  his  head  on  her  shoulder,  and 
called  from  time  to  time  for  his  favomite  ditties 
and  airs,  varying  his  employment  by  kissing  his 
mother's  hand,  which  he  held  in  his.  Little 
Fanny,  who  seemed  to  be  a  very  particular  favourite 
of  his,  sat  near  him  hemming  a  handkerchief,  and 
was  called  on  for  one  or  two  very  simple  songs, 
without  accompaniment. 

*' Doesn't  she  sing  well,  Mortimer?  Hasn't 
she  got  a  nice  little  voice  of  her  own?" 

"  Very,"  replied  Louis. 


DASIIWOOD    PRIOIIY.  47 

"  You  foiget  liow  well  you  always  told  us  ;>.Ir. 
Mortimer  sings,  Frcd/^  said  Fanny. 

"No.  By-thc-byc,  ^lortimcr,  do  sing  some- 
thing." 

"  Not  to-night/'  replied  Louis,  smiling.  "  There 
are  some  much  sweeter  songs  to  be  heard  bj''  you 
to-night." 

" By-the-bye/'  cxelaimed  Salisbury,  "there's 
'  Norie,'  and  all  those  things  not  packed  up,  and 
uliich  of  you  beauties  will  sew  me  a  button  on 
my  glove?" 

Fanny  seized  on  the  glove,  and  ran  lightly  awa}- 
V  ith  the  things  he  mentioned,  presently  followed 
by  her  eldest  sister. 

"  She 's  such  a  little  handy  thing,"  said  Salis- 
bury ;  "  I'll  be  bound  she's  got  them  all  in  be- 
fore the  Swan's  Neck  gets  upstairs.  Little  Fan, 
she  has  always  a  smile  and  a  needle  and  thread — 
eh,  mother?" 

"  We  must  not  talk  of  her  perfections,"  said  his 
motlier,  smiling. 

Salisbury  was  at  last  constrained  to  attempt  a 
song  himself,  and  lie  got  pretty  well  through  a 
rather  roaring  version  of  "  Blow  high,  blow  low," 
till  the  middle  of  the  second  Terse,  when  he  fairly 
broke  down,  and  hastily  resumed  his  scat  by  his 
mother. 

"  How  now,  Fred?"  said  his  father  kindly. 

"AVhat's  the  row,  Fred?"  exclaiincd  Charles; 
"you  haven't  iinislied  it." 

"  You  are  good  little  creatures  to  sing  so  nuieh 


48  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

for  me/'  said  Fred,  -with  an  attempt  to  be  gay. 
"I  know  a  fellow  can't  sing  Axry  well  with  a  lump 
in  liis  throat.  I'll  just  go  and  see  what  Fan's 
about." 

As  the  evening  wore  on,  the  spirits  of  the  party 
flagged,  and  Salisbury  at  length  hardly  spoke  at 
all.  Louis  retired  to  bed  before  prayers;  and 
believing  him  to  be  tired,  no  one  pressed  him  to 
stay  longer :  yet  it  was  more  than  an  hour  before 
the  family  separated ;  for  there  were  many  things 
to  say  that  night  of  their  first  long  separation, 
that  none  but  family  ears  should  hear,  and  grief 
that  none  but  each  other's  hearts  could  share. 
"We  -will  not  lift  the  veil;  there  are  some  things 
too  sacred  to  be  touched.  That  last  night  would 
never  be  forgotten  by  the  sailor  boy ;  nor  will  he 
ever  care  to  do  that  Avhich  should  bring  a  pang 
to  the  liind  hearts  of  those  dear  ones  Avho  think 
so  fondly  and  proudly  of  him  in  his  childhood's 
home. 

Fred  left  home  with  his  father  the  next  day,  by 
the  coach  that  took  Louis  and  Ethelred  to  Dr. 
Wilkinson's,  and  the  two  latter  were  set  down 
safely  at  the  White  Lion  early  in  the  afternoon, 
and  not  long  after  M'cre  on  their  way  to  Ashfield 
House. 


DASHWOOD    PRIOIIY.  49 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"  yiy  soul  hangeth  on  Thee  ;  Thy  right  hand  upholdeth  me." 
Ps.  Ixiii.  9  (Prayer  Book  version). 

"  He  that  feareth  the  Lord  will  do  good." — Ecclesiasticus. 

AVuEN  Louis  had  got  beyond  Clifton  lie  dis- 
mounted, with  his  young  charge,  both  preferring 
to  walk  the  remainder  of  the  distance,  as  Ethelrcd 
was  anxious  to  see  as  much  as  possible  of  the 
neighbourhood  of  his  school.  It  was  a  lovely, 
warm  day,  and  the  beauty  of  the  surrounding 
scenery  closed  Louis's  lips  for  a  time,  while  his 
heart  was  the  more  open  to  the  bounteous  Maker 
of  all.  Thoiights  of  all  past  goodness,  of  the 
care  that  had  been  over  him  since  he  first  learned 
to  love  the  Lord,  and  more  especially  since  he 
had  been  at  school,  rushed  through  his  mind. 
He  Mondered  why  so  much  love  was  shown  to 
him.  "  AVhy  me?  why  me?  so  weak,  so  faithless, 
so  doubting.  I  will  extol  Thee,  my  God,  oh  King, 
and  I  will  praise  Thy  name  for  ever  and  ever ;  for 
Thou  hast  magnified  Thy  word  and  Thy  name 
above  all  things.  Li  the  day  when  I  cried  Thou 
ausweredst  me,  and  strengthcnedst  me  with 
strength  in  my  soul !  And  will  He  not  still  be 
with  me?  I  will  trust,  and  not  l)c  alVaid."  lie 
remembered    how    f(;arfiil     he     Iku!     bctn    \\\\vn 


50  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

Hamilton  had  left  him,  but  still  he  had  been 
upheld  and  enabled  to  walk  holily  before  men ; 
now  he  was  still  more  alone.  Reginald,  who 
always  took  his  part,  who  Avas  ridicule  proof, 
was  no  longer  Avith  him  to  fight  his  battles,  and 
to  stand  by  him  with  his  straightforward  advice 
and  ready  sympathy.  Louis  could  hardh^  per- 
suade himself  that  he  Avas  growing  so  old,  and 
AAas  noAV  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  school,  and 
should  lead  instead  of  being  led. 

"  How  gently  haA'e  I  been  guided,  oli  my 
Father  l''  he  thought.  "Hitherto  hast  Thou 
helped  me ;  and  how  gradually  am  I  taught  to  go, 
taking  me  by  my  arms.  Surely  Thou  hast  led 
me  with  cords  of  love.  Hold  me  by  Thy  right 
hand ;  never  leave  nor  forsake  me,  but  perfect 
that  which  concerneth  me,  and  enable  me  to  Avalk 
before  Thee  Avith  a  perfect  heart."  Then  his 
thoughts  went  back  to  his  late  confirmation,  and 
he  Avas  thinking  how  much  more  decidedly  he 
should  stand  forth  as  a  soldier  of  Christ,  now  he 
had  make  this  pubhc  profession,  when  little 
Ethelred  said : — 

"  How  silent  you  are,  Mr.  ]Mortimer ;  are  you 
tired  or  sorry?" 

"  Neither ;  only  silent,"  replied  Louis. 

"  Your  eyes  seem  to  be  full  of  tears,"  said 
Ethelred ;  "  I  thought  you  Avere  thinking  of 
home." 

"  But  not  sorrowfully,"  said  Louis. 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  how  you  can  think  of  it  wow 


DASinVOOD    PRIORY.  51 

and  not  be  sorrowful ;  I  cau  scarcely  keep  from 
cryin;?,  especially  when  I  think  of  Fred  going." 

"  Poor  boy,"  said  Louis  kindly.  "  Ikit  you 
should  try  to  tliink  of  home  happilv  and  thank- 
fully, Ethclred." 

"  How  ?"  asked  Ethelred.  "  I  don't  know  how 
a  fellow  can.  Were  you  not  wishing  to  be  at 
home  just  then?" 

Louis  smiled. 

"There  is  no  harm  in  a  little  of  that,"  lie 
replied ;  "  though  I  was  not  exactly  wishing  to  be 
at  home  just  then." 

"But  would  you  not  go  home  if  you  might  ?" 
'  Perhaps  I  do  not  know  what  is  best  for  me, 
Ethelred,  and  so  it  is  a  very  happy  thing  I  am 
not  left  to  choose.  I  think  school  has  been,  with 
God's  blessing,  of  a  great  deal  of  use  to  me,  and 
I  hope  it  will  be  to  you.  You  know  -we  hope  to 
be  men  some  day,  and  must  go  out  among  men, 
and  we  must  learn,  while  boys,  how  men  should 
act ;  and  so  it  is  better  to  learn  something  of 
that  by  degrees  among  those  who  will  be  men 
■nith  us.  I  am  sure  it  is  best,  though  I  love 
home  so  dearly.  I  was  thinking  just  now  how 
many  things  I  had  to  thank  God  for,  and  how 
glad  I  ought  to  be  thfit  He  is  so  gracious  as  to 
direct  my  way  for  me,  instead  of  leaving  me  to 
choose  it  for  myself." 

ICthelred  looked  up  very  gravely  at  liis  com- 
panion, and  then  added  : — 

"  Are  tlie  bovs  at  ail  like  you,  Mr.  Mortimer':"' 
i;  2 


52  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  You  will  be  able  to  judge  for  yourself  soon/' 
replied  Louis.  "  But  now  I  will  tell  you  liow  I 
want  you  to  think  happily  and  thankfully  of 
home.  You  must  try  to  thank  God  that  He  has 
given  you  so  happy  a  home,  and  so  many  dear 
brothers  and  sisters,  and  such  kind  parents,  and 
pray  that  you  may  never,  never  do  anything  at 
school  that  may  cause  them  a  moment's  pain. 
The  half-year  will  soon  slip  by,  and  how  delightful 
it  will  be  to  take  home  a  good  character,  more 
information,  and  perhaps  a  prize.  Your  papa  and 
mamma  wish  you  to  improve,  and  you  will  not 
disappoint  them,  will  you  ?" 

"No;  I'll  try,"  replied  Ethelred,  squeezing 
Louis's  hand  very  hard.  "  Will  you  help  me, 
Mr.  Mortimer?" 

"  As  much  as  I  can.  I  want  you  to  show  the 
others  how  you  can  serve  God  in  diligence  and 
good  behaviour." 

"  I  am  sure  I  shall  be  good,  if  all  the  boys  are 
like  you,"  he  replied. 

"You  must  not  expect  them  to  care  so  much 
for  you  as  I  do  :  each  one  has  his  own  particular 
friend." 

"  And  may  I  be  yours,  Mr.  Mortimer  ?" 

"  You  may  be  one  of  mine,"  said  Louis. 

"  I  am  sure  you  are  very  kind,"  said  the 
little  boy.  "  How  long  it  is  before  we  get  to  Dr. 
Wilkinson's;  are  we  near?" 

"There  is  the  house,"  said  Louis.  "That  large 
grey  building  among  the  trees." 


DASH  wool)     PKIOIJV.  o3 

Ethelred  looked  ;it  it  with  a  kind  of  awo-struck 
interest. 

"  It^s  u  prettier  house  than  I  thouglit;  and 
where  is  the  playground,  and  which  side  is  the 
school-room  ?" 

"  The  sciiool-rooni  is  behind,  and  the  play- 
ground is  behind,  and  before,  and  sideways,  and 
every  way/^ 

"What,  that  beautiful  park,  Mr.  Mortimer?" 

"  Yes.  It  does  not  look  a  very  dismal  place, 
docs  it?" 

"  Oh  no,  it's  capital !  There's  plenty  of  room 
ibr  play." 

"  And  plenty  of  room  for  lessons  too  within," 
said  Louis. 

"  Oh  !  I  suppose  we  shall  have  an  awful  lot  of 
them  ;  I'm  awfully  afraid  of  that." 

''  There  is  notliing  to  excite  so  much  awe," 
replied  Louis.  "  I  fancy  your  fear  and  the  lessons 
arc  about  equally  matched,  as  you  say." 

'•What?"  said  Ethelred. 

"  There  is  nothing  very  awful  in  either.  For 
my  part,  I  never  met  with  anything  uw/nl  in 
lessons,  nor  do  I  think  I  ever  felt  ainfulhj  afraid  ; 
and  I  do  not  think  you  do  either,  if  you  consider 
about  it." 

"  Now,  ;Mr.  IMortimcr,  that's  just  what  mamma 
says." 

"Then  think  of  it  the  more." 

"There's  our  fly  going  in  at  the  gatc.'^ 

"And  \vc  shall  iu)t  be  vcrv  long  after  it,"  said 


54  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

Louis,  as  he  stooped  to  unfasten  a  little  wicket  at 
the  side  of  the  park.  "  Oh,  it's  fastened  ;  but  we 
can  climb  over." 

Accordingly  he  climbed  over,  assisted  Ethelred, 
and  by  a  short  cut  across  the  ground  reached  the 
hall-door  at  the  same  time  with  the  fly,  paid  the 
man,  dismissed  him,  and  then  led  his  little  charge 
into  the  school-room.  It  was  about  three  o'clock, 
consequently  all  were  in  full  work,  yet  many  near 
the  door  broke  out  of  bounds  to  greet  Louis 
as  he  entered,  and  one  grave-looking,  well-grown 
boy  of  twelve  years  old,  bolder  than  the  others, 
fairly  threw  himself  into  his  arms,  "  Oh  Louis ! 
I  was  afraid  you  were  not  coming  back." 

"  Sit  down,  Hamilton,"  cried  the  nearest  usher. 

"  It's  Louis  INIortimer,  sir,"  said  Alfred,  as  he 
obeyed  the  command. 

Louis  paid  liis  respects  to  each  master  in  suc- 
cession ;  and  it  was  pleasant  to  watch  the  welcome 
faces  wherever  he  turned.  One  or  two  inqui- 
ries were  made  about  Ethelred,  and  the  masters 
generally  said  a  kind  word  to  him  for  his  brother's 
sake. 

As  Louis  passed  up  the  schoolroom,  on  his  way 
to  the  study,  where  he  found  the  doctor  was,  he 
came  to  a  familiar  row  of  ink-stained  desks,  at 
one  end  of  which  sat  a  boy  of  fourteen,  with  a 
slate  and  book  before  him.  Both  his  elbows  were 
on  the  desk,  and  his  fingers  Avcre  shoved  among 
the  roots  of  his  hair,  while  his  abstracted,  absorbed 
study  of  the  subject  before  him  provoked  a  plea- 


DASHWOOD    TRIOKY.  i>a 

sant-looking  young  man  on  the  opposite  side,  wlio 
ought  to  have  been  similarly  occupied,  into  sketch- 
ing the  tempting  attitude  on  his  slate  for  the 
Ijenefit  of  his  next  neighbour,  with  ■whom  he  was 
holding  an  under-current  of  conversation  more 
amusing  than  profitable.  The  head  of  hair  and 
the  roimd  shoulders  Avould  have  identified  Charles 
Clifton  anywhere ;  and  Louis  roused  him  from  his 
studies  by  seizing  both  wrists,  and  pulling  him 
back  with  a  gentle  force.  It  was  a  minute  before 
Charles  appeared  to  understand  the  meaning  of 
the  interruption,  and  then  he  got  up  and  shook 
liauds. 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you." 

"  And  how  has  the  world  wagged  with  your 
ladyship  since  we  met  last  ? "  said  the  artist,  rising 
and  shaking  hands  across  the  desk.  "  I've  taken 
the  rise  out  of  you  this  half,  however,  Mr.  Louis. 
The  bottom  of  tiie  class  to  your  ladyship.  Is  that 
little  Salisbury?  How  is  it  you  come  so  late, 
sir?  The  doctor  has  been  so  angry  that  you 
didn't  come  the  first  day." 

"  Frank,  Frank  !  "  said  Louis,  laughing. 

"  Well,  how  are  Vernon,  Reginald,  Salisbury, 
and  all  the  rest  ?  " 

"  I  must  tell  you  that  after  school,"  replied 
Louis,  "  for  Mr.  Danby  looks  as  if  I  were  dis- 
turbing decorum  ;  and,  besides,  I  ought  to  go 
in  to  the  doctor." 

"  Hear  him  !  "  said  Fi'ank.  ''  I  dare  say  Fudge 
has  forgotten  your  existence." 


56  DASHMOOD    PRIORY. 

"  I  flatter  myself  he  has  not." 

"  '  Lay  not  that  flatteiinf;^  unction  to  your  soul/ 
Lady  Louisa.  Sit  down;  I  dare  say  he  can  wait 
five  minutes." 

Louis  only  replied  by  a  low  bow^  and  a  retreat 
to  the  class-room. 

I  have  so  often  elsewhere  detailed  interviews  with 
the  respected  head  master  of  xVshfield  HousCj  that  a 
repetition  may  be  tedious.  It  will  answer  om*  end 
to  say  that  Ethelred  Salisbmy  was  duly  presented 
to  and  examined  by  Dr.  Wilkinson  that  afternoon^ 
and  placed  in  the  lowest  class^  where  he  had  the 
felicity  of  doing  two  or  three  sums  with  a  great 
deal  of  help,  and  looked  about  for  the  rest  of  the 
time  till  tempiis  ludendi  Avas  proclaimed. 

When  this  welcome  period  arrived,  Louis, 
Clifton,  and  Frank,  with  one  or  two  others,  con- 
gregated in  the  play-gi'ound  to  discuss  the  events 
of  the  holidays.  There  were  many  expressions 
of  regret  that  Reginald  and  Meredith  had  not 
returned,  and  many  inquiries  about  Vernon, 
Avhose  collegiate  fame  was  known  to  many  at 
Dr.  Wilkinson's. 

"And  so  Meredith  is  going  to  read  at  Dash- 
wood  ? — he's  a  happy  fellow,"  said  Frank.  "  I 
only  wish  I  were  going  somewliere.  I  wanted 
very  much  to  persuade  my  father  to  that  step, 
but  he  was  unpersuadcable.  They  always  seem 
so  glad  to  get  rid  of  me.  However,  one  thing  is 
agreeably  decided,  that  I  leave  school  at  Michael- 
mas, and  matriculate  in  October  at  Trinity." 


DA.sinvooi)  riuoiiY.  .>/ 

"Oxford  or  Cambridge?"  asked  one. 

"  As  if  there  could  be  any  doubt/'  answered 
Frank,  contemptuously.  "  Do  you  think  I  should 
l)atronizc  Oxford  at  all?  and  nothing  less  than 
Christ  Church  there,  if  you  please.  No,  Cam- 
bridge, man,  which  my  father  and  my  father's 
father  honoured  before  me." 

"  I  suppose  you  mean  to  rival  Vernon  ?  "  said 
one. 

"  That  remains  to  be  seen.  One  such  lumi- 
naiy  is  enough  for  the  family  honour.  I  am 
looking  forward  to  a  little  ease  and  rest  after  the 
fatigues  of  school.  Don't  you  think  that  fair, 
Louis  ?  " 

"  I  am  beginning  to  be  of  opinion  that  we  are 
not  intended  to  rest  in  this  life,"  answered  Louis ; 
"  and  I  do  not  think  we  arc  any  the  happier  for 
it  cither." 

"  '  On,  Frankic,  on  !  is  the  last  cry  of  Louis.' 
Oh,  insatiable  model  of  perseverance  and  mo- 
rality !    Do  you  know  where  Hamilton  is  now?" 

"  He  and  Trevannion  are  somewhere  in  the 
Isle  of  AVight.  Hamilton  docs  not  seem  to  Ik; 
doing  very  much  at  Oxford." 

"  Leave  him  alone,"  said  Frank.  "Hamilton 
is  not  an  intuitive  genius;  he  is  rather  a  slow 
coach,  but  a  very  sure  one.  He  will  come  in 
first,  and  be  in  no  danger  of  an  upset  all  the 
way  througli.  He  knows  what  he  knows,  and 
that's  more  than  we  flighty  ones  can  say.  He 
will  make  a  capital  1)an'istcr." 


58  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  He  will/'  said  another.  "  He  is  so  clear- 
headed, and  has  such  a  cool  manner  of  his 
own.'^ 

"  As  for  Trevannion/'  continued  Frank,  "  he's 
an  ass;  and  it's  well  for  him  he's  of  a  good 
family, — that  is  to  say,  if  he  wants  to  get  any- 
tliing.  He  is  founder's  kin  somewhere.  I  pity 
the  poor  flock  who  will  have  the  misfortune  to 
own  his  tender  care.  He'd  lead  them  into  the 
lion's  den,  going  first  himself,  because  he  knows 
no  better ;  and,  what's  more,  he's  so  weak  and  so 
pig-headed,  he  will  never  be  any  better." 

"  Don't  say  that,  Frank,"  said  Louis,  gravely. 
"  He  may,  indeed,  and  I  trust  he  will." 

"  Mortimer,  have  you  heard  about  Ferrers  ?" 
asked  one  of  the  party. 

Louis  answered  in  the  negative. 

"Then  there's  a  piece  of  news  for  you,"  said 
Frank.  "  ^Yhen  we  next  go  into  Bristol,  we  will 
pay  him  a  visit." 

"  He  lost  his  father  about  a  twelvemonth  ago," 
said  the  first  speaker,  "  and  it  appears  he  was 
greatly  involved,  and  left  him  nothing.  An  uncle 
or  cousin  has  had  pity  on  him,  and  has  appren- 
ticed him  to  a  stationer  in  Wine-street,  telling 
him,  as  I  understand,  that  he  can't  think  of  in- 
dulging his  fine  gentlemanly  notions — that  beggars 
miistn't  be  choosers." 

"  There  then,"  said  Frank. 

"  Pride  has  had  a  fall,"  said  another.  "  No 
one  can  pity  him  much." 


DASinVOOI)    PRIORV. 


"  Poor  fellow  !  "  said  Louis.  "  Is  it  not  enough 
to  be  alone  in  the  world,  poor  fellow?" 

"It  is  a  just  punishment  for  him/'  said  the  in- 
former. 

"A  just  punishment,  Williams?"  said  Louis, 
turning  round,  and  speaking  very  gravely. 
"  '  Thinkest  thou,  that  they  on  whom  the  tower 
of  Siloam  fell,  were  sinners  above  all  otlicrs? '  If 
we  talk  oi  just  j)umshment,  what  do  we  deserve?" 

"  Ay,"  said  Frank,  " '  if  every  man  had  his 
deserts,  who  shall  escape  whipping' — S/iakspeare, 
hem !  I  did  feel  as  sorry  for  him  as  I  could,  but  he 
was  such  a  churl." 

"  Perhaps,"  said  Williams,  "  he'll  know  how  to 
be  civil  now." 

"  Perhaps,  so  far  from  a  judgment,  it  may  be 
for  good  to  him,"  said  Louis.  "  Have  you  been 
to  see  him,  Frank  ?" 

"  He  has  helped  mc  to  a  packet  of  envelopes." 

"  Is  that  all?"  said  Louis,  earnestly. 

"  All !  "  replied  Frank ;  "  did  you  think  I  meant 
to  lower  myself  by  companionship  with  a  sta- 
tioner's apprentice?" 

"  I  do  not  think  you  would  lower  yourself  by 
speaking  to  him,"  said  Louis. 

"  Chacwi  a  son  (jout,"  answered  Frank.  "  He 
may  be  well  enough  ;  I  can't  help  his  condition, 
nor  he  neither,  but  it  places  a  bar  between  us, 
and  he  never  was  a  friend  of  mine.  Were  you  or 
Hamilton  placed  in  such  a  i)redicamcnt,  the  case 
would  be  materially  altered." 


CO  DASHWOOD    PKIOKY. 

Louis  was  going  to  ask  Ferrer's  direction,  when 
the  conversation  was  interrupted  by  a  group  of 
little  boys,  among  whom  were  Ethelred  Salisbury 
and  Alfred  Hamilton.  The  former,  with  a  very 
red  face,  was  loudly  declaiming  against  the  injus- 
tice of  some  assertion,  apparently  made  by  one  or 
all  of  the  little  party  round  him,  and  by  his 
indignant  gestures  of  course  only  laid  himself 
more  open  to  his  tormentors. 

"  How  now,  Ethelred  !  "  exclaimed  Louis. 
"What's  the  matter?'' 

"  The  boys  are  teasing  me  !  "  exclaimed  Alfred, 
tauntingly. 

''  Alfred  ! "  said  Louis,  "  I  am  both  surprised 
and  ashamed." 

"  Why,  Louis  ?  All  boys  must  be  teased  when 
they  come  to  school,  and  I've  heard  you  say — " 

"What's  the  matter,  Ethelred?"  asked  Louis, 
cutting  short  Alfred's  speech,  and  drawing  Ethelred 
away. 

The  child  seemed  struggling  with  a  determina- 
tion not  to  cry.  He  bit  his  lips  very  hard,  and 
clenched  his  hands,  and  it  was  not  until  Louis 
had  repeated  his  question,  at  a  little  distance  from 
the  others,  that  he  answered, — 

"Alfred  says  I  can't  add  three  and  fonr  !  but 
I  can;  and  it's  all  a  lie." 

"  Ho  !  he  !"  cried  Frank.   "  Orlando  Furioso  !" 

Louis  looked  beseechingly  at  Frank,  and  un- 
doing the  little  hand,  put  it  between  his  own,  and 
patted  it,  while  he  answered,  with  a  mixture  of 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY,  61 

sweetness  and  gravity,  "  You  must  prove  to  tlicm 
it  is  not  true,  Etliclred.  Have  you  been  doing 
any  sums  this  afternoon  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  have  had  some  very  hard  sums,  and  I 
couldn't  do  them  -very  well ;  they  forget  I've  never 
been  at  school  before.  They  -were  awfully  hard, 
~SIy.  !Mortimer." 

"  Given,"  said  Frank,  "  the  distance  between 
tlie  play-ground  wall  and  the  garden  gate,  to  find 
tlie  length  of  Dr.  AVilkinson's  desk  in  inches; 
tliat  was  it,  wasn't  it?" 

J!ltlielred  looked  up  puzzled. 

"  Was  not  that  the  question  ?  " 

"  Xo,  sir,"  he  replied,  sulkily. 

"  Oh  !  this  was  it,  I  dare  say.  If  I  pay  four 
and  sixpence  for  a  silk  pocket-liandkerchicf,  how 
much  do  your  shoes  cost?" 

Ethelrcd  looked  again  at  Frank,  and  then  burst 
out  lauirhinj^r. 

"  Ah,  I  sec ;  you  can't  add  three  and  four,"  said 
Frank. 

Louis  laughed  too,  and  then  said,  "  Don't  you 
tliink  it  is  nuieh  better  to  laugh  about  these  things 
than  to  get  in  a  passion?" 

Ethclred  hung  liis  head. 

"  Come." 

"Only  I  can't  lielp  it,  because  it  is  not  true, 
and  nobody  takes  my  part  but  you ;  and  I'm 
sure,  Mr.  ^lortimer,  if  you  had  been  so  teased 
when  vou  came  to  school,  you  would  have  mijuled 
it." 


62  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  Ai'gimientum,  ad  Jiominem/'  said  one  of  them. 

"  But  powerless  here/'  said  Frank,  "  as  Louis 
was  the  most  patient  and  good-humoured  of  all 
teased  mortals  on  a  similar  occasion.^' 

"I  don't  think  I  was  ever  very  cross  about 
teasing/'  said  Louis,  kindly.  "  Perhaps  I  did 
not  mind  it  so  much  as  you  do ;  but  when  the 
boys  see  it  teases  you,  they  are  encouraged  to  go 
on.  The  best  way  is  to  take  no  notice  of  it ; — 
laugh  too." 

"  But  I  don't  like  them  to  say  I  don't  know 
how  to  add." 

"  Then  get  on  fast,  and  get  into  another  class, 
and  show  that  you  are  able  to  do  as  well  as  any 
one.  Get  before  some  of  them ;  they  won't  laugh 
at  you  then." 

Ethelred's  eyes  sparkled. 

"  I  will  try,  ]Mr.  Mortimer.  I  will  show  them 
I  am  as  clever  as  they  are,  with  all  their  boast- 
ing ;  and  then  I  can  tease  too." 

"  Bravo  !  "  said  Frank.  "  I  am  glad  to  see  you 
have  such  an  amiable  spirit  of  your  own,  Master 
Ethelred." 

Ethelred  looked  doubtfully  at  Frank,  and  then 
at  Louis,  who  was  looldng  very  gravely  at  liim. 

"  Are  you  angry,  Mr.  ]Mortimcr  ?  " 

"  Are  you  right,  Ethelred  ?  I  should  hope, 
when  you  have  the  power  to  tease,  you  will  re- 
member how  painful  you  found  it  to  be  teased, 
and  not  like  to  give  another  the  same  pain," 

Ethelred  coloured  furiously,  and  looked  rather 


DASHWOOD    PIIIORY.  6S 

angry ;  but  Louis  said  no  more  to  him,  and  the 
tca-bcU  ringing,  he  hurried  with  his  friends 
towards  the  house.  Etheh-ed  walked  very  silently 
by  him  till  they  entered.  "When  the  pai'ty  sepa- 
rated, he  pulled  Louis  aside,  and  whispered,  "  I 
will  think  of  what  you  said,  ^Mr.  [Mortimer.  I 
will  try  to  be  kind." 

Louis  smiled,  and  laid  his  hand  on  the  little 
boy's  head. 

The  study,  or  class-room,  before  mentioned, 
was  soon  filled  by  the  two  first  classes  when 
tea  was  over.  After  Louis  had  ascertained  what 
his  own  duties  were  for  the  next  day,  he  went 
into  the  school-room  to  look  after  his  jirotecjcs. 
He  had  soon  a  busy  little  class  round  him, 
and  was  able  to  be  of  signal  service  to  poor 
Ethelred,  who  was  in  a  state  of  mystifica- 
tion respecting  the  different  lessons  required  of 
him.  !^lissing  one  of  his  applicants,  Louis  looked 
round  the  room,  and  presently  discovered  Alfred 
Hamilton  not  far  from  him  with  a  copy  of 
Xenophon  before  him,  busily  engaged  in  making 
paper-bellows,  and  endeavouring  to  blow  out  the 
candle,  with  the  most  hopelessly  idle  expression 
on  his  countenance.  As  soon  as  he  had  set  his 
pupils  to  work,  Louis  walked  up  to  Alfred,  and, 
looking  over  his  shoulder,  asked  him  how  long  ho 
had  been  engaged  at  this  lesson. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know." 

"  Have  you  done  anything  clbc  this  evening  ?" 

"  No."  ' 


C)^  DASH  WOOD    PRIORY. 

"  And  how  much  have  you  to  do  ? — and  liow 
much  have  you  done  ?  " 

Alfred  laughed,  and  snatched  the  book  from 
his  friend,  who  had  taken  hold  of  it, 

"  You  ask  such  a  heap  of  questions,  Louis." 

"  But  how  much  ?  " 

"  As  much  again  as  half." 

"And  how  much  is  half,  if  it  is  not  too  im- 
pertinent a  question." 

"  The  quarter  multiplied  by  two." 

Louis  coloured,  and  nearly  tm^ned  away;  but 
he  remembered  Hamilton,  and  his  own  deter- 
mination not  to  act  to  any  boy  as  others  had 
acted  to  him  when  he  needed  patience  and  kind- 
ness to  his  errors. 

"Alfred,"  he  said,  seriously,  "I  suppose  you 
have  done  nothing,  and  that  has  made  you  dis- 
satisfied with  youi'self,  and  impertinent  to  me. 
I  am  afraid  this  day  has  been  a  wrong  day  alto- 
gether. If  you  wish  me  to  leave  you  alone  to- 
night I  will ;  but  I  warn  you,  that  if  you  are  not 
industrious  for  the  rest  of  the  evening,  you  will 
be  in  disgrace  to-morrow.  If  you  Avant  any 
assistance,  I  shall  be  ready  to  give  it  when  you 
ask  for  it." 

Alfred  caught  hold  of  his  coat  as  he  turned 
away. 

"Don't  be  angry,  Louis.  I  have  only  done 
one  line,  and  tliat's  the  sum  tottle."  He  gave 
another  puff  Avith  his  last  pair  of  bellows,  and 
then,  putting  them  all  into  Louis'  hands,  said, — 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY,  65 

"  There,  I'll  make  you  a  present  of  them, — 
i^eXavvii, — oh,  this  beastly  stuff !  I  really  never 
can  do  it.  What's  the  use  of  kno^ving  how  many 
hopides  there  were,  and  how  many  demons 
guarded  each  city  ?  I  think  Greek  was  invented 
to  make  boys  miserable." 

"  Oh,  Alfred  !  how  can  you  be  such  a  baby.'' 

"It's  all  very  well  for  a  scholar  like  you  to 
talk." 

"  And  how  do  you  suppose  I  became  a  scholar, 
— by  kicking  my  legs  about,  and  dog's-earing  my 
books  ?  " 

"  Yes,  of  course." 

"  Give  me  your  book,  and  let  me  see  what  you 
can  do." 

Alfred  groaned,  sighed,  kicked  the  form,  put 
his  elbows  on  the  desk,  laid  his  head  thereon,  and 
a  few  minutes  after  finally  shoved  himself  as  far 
as  possible  on  the  form,  and,  poking  his  head 
under  the  desk,  grunted  out  a  line  and  a  half, 
concluding  with, — "  We  never  get  a  bit  of  play 
now,  Louis.  When  will  you  play  the  judge 
again  ?" 

"  Not  on  Saturday  night,  when  you  have  less 
time  than  usual.  Come,  Alfred,  what's  the 
next  ?  Now  do  lift  up  your  head,  and  look  at  the 
book." 

"  I  never  can  be  industrious  at  classics,  they 
arc  such  beastly  stuff.  Now,  mathematics, — I 
don't  mind  how  long  I  am  about  them." 

"  I  tliink  you    don't   mind    how  loug  you  are 

¥ 


66  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

about  Greek  either/^  said  Louis,  "  or  you  would 
have  done  tliis  long  ago." 

"Oli!^'  groaned  Alfred  again,  and  down -went 
his  head  again  under  the  desk.  "  It's  too  bad  of 
Mr.  Norton  to  set  us  such  hard  lessons.  Now, 
Louis,  you  are  too  particular ;  let  me  rest  myself 
a  minute ;  you're  always  at  me  so." 

Louis  got  the  head  up  again,  and,  with  the  most 
exemplary  patience,  brought  Master  Alfred  safely 
through  three  more  lines  before  the  little  boys 
were  summoned  to  bed,  and  by  dint  of  great  ex- 
ertions, he  accomplished  another  three  before  the 
time  arrived  when  he  knew  the  younger  ones 
would  be  in  bed,  when  he  ran  upstairs  to  fulfil  a 
previous  promise  of  telling  them  a  little  story, 
after  they  were  in  bed.  As  he  came  downstairs, 
he  met  the  second  division  going  to  bed,  and 
among  them  was  Alfred  Hamilton. 

"  Oh,  Louis !  good  night ;  I've  been  wishing  I 
was  a  little  boy,  that  I  might  have  been  upstairs 
with  you.  I  see  I  have  tired  you  to-night,  haven't 
I,  Louis  ?  Haven't  I  ?  now  do  say." 

"  Never  mind  that  now,  Alfred ;  think  over  it 
all  by  yourself." 

"  I  know  I  have ;  Vm  a  bad  fellow,  Louis.  I 
could  fling  my  own  books  at  my  head,  Louis.  I 
will  do  better.  I  will  be  more  kind  to  Ethelred  ; 
indeed,  I  was  sorry." 

Louis  shook  hands  very  warmly,  and  whispered 
a  few  words  of  advice  to  him,  and  dashing  his 
hand  across  his  eyes,  Alfred  ran  upstairs.     To  his 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY,  67 

great  delight,  Louis  found,  on  retiring  to  rest, 
that  Hamilton's  old  room  was  now  to  be  his,  and 
it  was  directly  arranged  in  his  own  mind  that 
Alfred  and  Ethclred  should  come  to  him  every 
morning,  as  Alfred  had  been  in  the  habit  of  doing 
with  his  brother.  His  heart  went  up  in  thankful- 
ness to  his  heavenly  Father,  who  had  provided 
this  quiet  retreat  for  him ;  and  soothed  by  silent 
meditation  after  the  excitement  of  the  day,  he  fell 
asleep,  while  breathing  prayers  for  all  the  dear 
ones  at  home. 


f  2 


68  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 


CHAPTER  V. 

"  Id  the  bosom  joy  and  grief 
Ever  cling  together  ; 
Calm  and  tempest,  pain  and  pleasure. 
Days  of  trouble,  hours  of  leisure, 
Come  like  April  weather, 

"  "Where  a  shower  falls  to-day, 

Flowers  may  bloom  to-morrow  ; 
In  the  cottage,  in  the  palace, 
Sweet  and  bitter  fill  the  chalice, — 
Mirth  is  twin'd  with  sorrow. 

"  Trust  to  Him  who  hangs  the  bow 
On  the  shower's  glancing  ; 
If  we  firmly  bear  our  sadness, 
He  will  turn  our  grief  to  gladness, 
In  the  days  advancing." 

Mendelssohn's  Part-Song. 

"  All  things  are  lawful  for  me,  but  all  things  are  not  expe- 
dient. All  things  are  lawful,  but  I  will  not  be  brought  \inder 
the  power  of  any." — 1  Cor.  vi.  12. 

All  Louis*  warmth  and  generous  sympathy  had 
been  roused  by  the  account  of  poor  Ferrers,  and  he 
had  determined  to  pay  him  a  visit  at  the  earhest 
opportunity.  Nearly  a  fortnight  elapsed,  however, 
before  the  opportunity  arrived.  About  this  time 
Louis  received  a  letter  from  Reginald  giving  a 
detailed  account  of  all  home  doings,  and  more 
particularly  of  the  dangerous  illness  of  Vernon. 


DASHWOOI)    PRIORY.  69 

"  You  iciiiciubcr,"  said  Reginald,  "  his  slippinj;;^ 
into  the  mill-pond  tlie  day  before  you  left  us,  and 
how  much  we  laughed.  Ah  !  Louis,  how  near 
smiles  and  tears  arc.  We  do  not  know  what  we 
laugrh  at.  "Well,  vou  remember  how  obstinate 
^'emon  Avas  about  hurrying  home,  and  it  seems 
now  that,  even  after  all,  he  actually  sat  in  his  wet 
clothes  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  Avriting  two 
notes,  for  fear  of  being  too  late  for  the  post.  The 
consequence  was,  that  the  next  day  he  had  a  tre- 
mendous cold  on  his  chest,  with  fever  and  shiver- 
iuir,  which  terminated  in  violent  inflammation  of 
the  lungs.  He  says  he  felt  burning  hot  in  the 
night,  and  got  up  and  opened  the  window  and  sat 
by  it  till  he  had  a  shivering  fit,  when  he  got  into 
bed  again.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  very  anxious 
we  have  been ;  Uncle  and  Aunt  Digby  have  been 
here.  At  one  time  no  one  expected  he  would  get 
over  it ;  but  thank  God,  thank  God,  Louis,  with  us, 

he  is  now  recovering  rapidly,  and  Dr.  S says, 

with  God's  blessing  and  care,  will  do  very  well. 
Poor  Uncle  Frank,  I  never  saw  anything  like  his 
anguish  when  it  was  thought  Vernon  must  die. 
Oh  !  how  sad  it  is  that  he  has  no  religion  to  com- 
fort him.  Vernon  is  serious,  and  seems  vcv 
thankful  for  his  recoveiy ;  he  was  too  ill  for 
much  reflection,  Louis,  but  I  hope  he  will  never 
forget  this  time.  Meredith  has  been  so  kind 
and  thoughtful.  He  has  tried  to  make  up  for 
you  (indeed  we  wanted  you),  1  am  sure  his  prayers 
have  been  with  us.     Vernon  is  to  go  for  a  cruise 


70  DASHWOOD    PRIORT. 

on  the  Mediteri'anean  as  soon  as  he  is  strong 
enough.  Uncle  Clarence  has  promised  his  yacht, 
and  George  Vernon,  Neville,  and  I,  accompany 
him.  I  wish  you  were  to  be  one  of  the 
party.^' 

There  was  much  in  this  long  letter  that  made 
Louis  both  thoughtful  and  thankftd,  though  his 
cousin  Prank  remarked  alternately  upon  the  im- 
proper manner  in  which  he  had  been  treated,  in 
not  hearing  sooner  of  his  brother's  illness,  and  the 
good  thing  it  was  he  had  been  spared  the  anxiety 
the  news  would  have  excited  earlier.  Louis  was 
much  pleased  with  the  chastened  tone  of  his 
brother^s  letter,  and  now  the  danger  was  over,  he 
was  glad,  like  Frank,  that  he  had  been  kept  in 
ignorance. 

Two  days  after  this  came  a  half-holiday,  and 
Louis  obtained  permission  to  take  Alfred  and 
Ethelred  to  Bristol.  The  long  walk  was  pleasantly 
beguiled  by  one  of  Louis'  inexhaustible  stories, 
and  when  they  reached  Wine-street,  Louis  left  his 
companions  in  a  toy-shop,  to  choose  anything  they 
liked,  and  went  back  to  a  stationer's  they  had 
passed.  He  stepped  in  rather  hesitatingly.  To 
his  great  satisfaction  there  was  only  one  person  in 
the  shop,  and  in  him  he  immediately  recognised 
his  quondam  schoolfellow,  as  he  was  very  little 
grown,  and  still  bore  the  old  expression  of  sullen 
indifference.  He  did  not  appear  to  recognize 
Louis,  and  replied  to  his  demand  for  some  writing 
paper  by  bringing  down  from  a  shelf  a  packet  of 


Louis  at  tlie  Stationer's. 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  71 

the  required  article,  and  placing  it  on  the  counter 
with  tlie  most  dogged  expression  of  apathy,  untied 
it  without  a  word. 

"  This  will  do ;  what  is  it  a  quire ?'^  asked  Louis. 

"  Ninepence/^  replied  Ferrers. 

"  I  will  have  two  quires,  if  you  please." 

The  two  quires  were  laid  aside  in  the  same 
manner,  the  rest  of  the  paper  fastened  up,  and 
Louis^  purchase  made  up  and  handed  to  him  as  il 
the  apprentice,  instead  of  a  human  being,  were  a 
machine  made  for  putting  away  and  tying  up 
parcels;  Louis  drew  out  his  purse,  and  as  he 
laid  the  money  on  the  counter,  looked  steadily 
at  him. 

"  Ferrers,  have  you  forgotten  me  ?" 

A  deep  crimson  blush  answered  in  the  negative, 
but  there  was  no  further  reply. 

"  I  came  to  see  you." 

"  That  you  might  look  down  upon  me." 

It  was  now  Louis'  turn  to  colour,  but  he  replied 
gently,  as  he  held  out  his  hand  : 

"  I  know  you  do  not  think  so,  Ferrers ;  why 
should  I  ?  why  should  any  one  look  down  on 
you?  I  think  you  are  the  one  who  looks  down. 
Are  you  too  proud  to  shake  hands  witli  an  old 
schoolfellow  ?" 

Ferrers  took  Louis'  hand  as  though  he  would 
have  let  it  fall. 

"  You  have  had  much  sorrow,  Ferrers ;  I  have 
been  very  gi-ievcd  to  hear  of  it ;  I  cannot  tell  you 
how  much  I  feel  for  you.     It  is  very  mysterious 


72  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

why  we  are  so  dealt  with ;  why  one  is  spared  and 
another  laden." 

Just  then  another  customer  entered,  and  from 
the  opposite  side  of  the  shop  the  master,  who, 
seemg  a  young  gentleman  in  conversation  -svith 
his  apprentice,  begged  him  to  step  inside,  and 
desiring  Ferrers  to  take  him  to  the  back-parlour, 
he  attended  liimself  to  the  shop.  Here  they  were  in 
privacy,  but  as  Ferrers  still  retained  his  stolidity, 
Louis  felt  a  little  awkwardness  in  pursuing  the 
subject  he  had  at  heart. 

"  I  know  it  is  very  easy  for  us  to  talk  to  one 
another  of  resignation,"  he  said  again  ;  "  however 
much  we  may  sympathize  we  cannot  understand 
another's  bitterness.  Resignation  is  what  God 
gives  in  His  own  good  time,  dear  Ferrers ;  we  are 
allowed  to  weep,  and  to  weep  with  one  another, 
for  Jesus  wept," 

Louis'  affectionate  eyes  were  fuU  of  emotion, 
but  Ferrers  saw  them  not,  though  he  heard  the 
quivering  tone  of  his  voice  :  he  replied  sullenly  : 

"  I  don't  want  anyone's  sympathy  —  I  am 
enough  for  myself." 

"  No  one  is  that,  Ferrers  :  I  am  sure  you  do 
want  sympathy.  It  is  that  veiy  want  that  makes 
you  spurn  it  when  it  is  offered." 

"  I  don't  want  it  from  you,  then,"  he  replied, 
in  a  softened  voice. 

"  And  why  not  from  me  ?" 

There  was  a  pause. 

"  Because  you  will  not  believe  me  sincere  ?  " 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  73 

"  I  don't  believe  you  come  to  carry  the  tale  of 
what  the  apprentice  is  doing,  and  how  he  looks. 
1  know  you  are  above  that ;  but  I  cannot  bear 
that  you,  above  all,  should  think  about  me  and 
feel  for  me.  You  had  better  go  and  foi'get  all 
about  me :  I  shall  do ;  things  never  went  too 
straight  with  me." 

"  I  cannot  go  till  you  look  more  brightly  on 
things,"  replied  Louis.  "  Come,  Ferrers,  if  school- 
boys are  always  to  harp  upon  bygones  what  would 
become  of  us  all  ?  You  must  not  look  so  darkly 
upon  your  sorrows ;  it  is  not  resignation  to  bo 
callous.  Perhaps  you  do  not  know  how  much 
love  there  may  be  in  this  weight  of  sorrow ;  I 
know  it  is  a  weight." 

"  Love,"  repeated  Ferrers.  "  Cast  out  of  my 
position — "  he  murmured  something  which  Louis 
could  not  catch. 

"The  Lord  casteth  down  and  raiseth  up, 
Ferrers ;  do  not  close  your  heart,  but  pray  that 
God  will  work  His  own  great  work  in  this  afflic- 
tion :  when  that  is  done,  He  may  raise  you  up 
again;  He  can.  He  that  hurablcth  himself  shall 
be  exalted.  He  can  find  you  friends  and  means 
too.  \\'ait  on  the  Lord,  be  of  good  courage,  and 
He  shall  strengthen  your  heart.  "Will  \()u  not 
come  and  see  me  at  Ashfield  ?  I  have  Hamilton's 
room  now,  and  I  am  sure  Dr.  Wilkinson  will 
allow  me  to  see  you  there.  Do  you  continue  your 
studies  now?  " 

"  What  would  be  the  use  ?    I  sec  none." 


74  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  What  use  did  you  intend  them  to  be  ?  Is  it 
not  a  pity  to  let  your  talents  lie  fallow  ?" 

"  Where  would  be  the  good,  when  I  am  debarred 
from  entering  the  university  ?" 

"But  is  that  the  only  end  of  study?"  asked 
Louis.  "  Is  there  no  pleasure  in  it  for  its  own 
sake;  no  advantage  fi'om  it  but  such  as  can  be 
gained  through  college  ?  I  need  not  remind  you 
of  the  many  other  callings  it  fits  us  for ;  I  know 
you  better,  Ferrers;  it  will  do  you  good  in 
strengthening  your  mind.  Besides,  how  can  you 
say  that  there  never  will  be  any  opening  for  you 
in  Oxford :  how  many  poor  men  get  in  there. 
Fit  yourself  and  try  for  a  scholarship,  and  I  think 
there  are  some  societies  here  for  sending  men  to 
the  universities." 

"  Ay,  for  the  Church ;  and,  bad  as  I  am,  I  would 
not  be  a  clergyman  for  mere  gain." 

"  Oh  no,  to  be  sure  not !"  exclaimed  Louis, 
warmly.  "You  may  thank  God  He  gives  you 
this  feeling;  but  try,  hope  on — as  we  say  at 
school,  'never  say  die;' — you  have  not  tried  how 
many  shots  there  are  in  the  locker  yet." 

A  slight  smile  passed  over  Ferrers'  face. 

"  Hope  was  the  last  thing  which  left  Pandora's 
box,  Louis,"  he  said. 

"  So  it  was,"  ansAvered  Louis.  "  We  don't  hear 
that  it  ever  left  it ;  and,  dear  Ferrers,  is  it  not 
wrong  to  give  up  hope  as  long  as  God  gives  us 
health,  and  talents,  and  strength  ?  I  want  you  to 
look  up  to  Him." 


DASnWOOD    PRIORY.  75 

Ferrers  sat  down  and  leaned  bis  licad  on  the 
table. 

"Ob,  Louis!"  be  said,  "my  fatlier  said  look 
to  Him ;  I  believe  he  did  himself.  Oh,  Louis,  he 
was  such  a  father ;  too  good  for  me.  Very  unfor- 
tunate, very  unfortunate."  He  could  hardly 
articulate  the  last  words.  Louis'  hand  was  kindly 
laid  on  his  arm,  and  Ferrers  did  not  repulse  him 
this  time. 

"  I  have  deserved  it  all.  I  was  not  to  him 
what  I  ought  to  have  been — my  only  friend ;  but 
I  could  say,  '  my  punishment  is  greater  than  I  can 
bear.' " 

"  You  must  not  think  so,"  said  Louis.  "  God 
is  love,  trust  Him;  He  is  light,  look  at  Him, 
and  He  will  lighten  you ;  He  will  rise  on  you 
with  healing  in  His  wings.  I  have  prayed,  and 
I  trust  I  shall  pray  for  you  ;  but  you  must  pray 
for  yourself.  Now,  will  you  come  and  see  me  ? 
Promise  you  will." 

"  I  have  little  time,"  said  Ferrers. 

"Enough  for  that  sometimes,  have  you  not?" 

"  Perhaps." 

"Promise  then,  God  willing,  that  you  will 
come." 

"  I  will  try." 

"  Thank  you ;  now  I  must  bid  you  good  bye, 
for  1  have  Alfred  Hamilton  and  l':tbclrcd  Salisbury 
waiting  for  mc  at  the  toy-shop  (Fred  Salisbury's 
youngest  brother  but  one) ." 

"Thank  you,  Louis,"  said  Ferrers,  rising;  "I 


76  DASHWOOD    PRIOHY. 

think  you  are  what  I  always  thought  you — nearly 
an  angel /^ 

"Hush!" 

"  May  your  God  bless  you,  and — may  He  be 
my  God  also." 

"Amen/'  said  Louis,  and  they  pressed  each 
others  hands. 

Louis  returned  to  his  charge. 

"  What  a  long  time  you  have  been,  Louis ! " 
exclaimed  Alfred ;  "  I  was  coming  to  look  after 
you." 

"  It  seemed  long  to  you,  I  suppose,  because  you 
Avere  ready  ;  well,  have  you  made  your  choice  ?  " 

"  I  should  like  this  paint-box,"  said  Alfred ; 
"  and  Salisbury  wants  a  pencil-case." 

"  Very  well ;  now  Ethelred,  choose  one  of  these 
three,"  said  Louis,  selecting  three  from  the  heap 
before  him." 

"  May  I  really  have  one  ?  I  thought  it  would 
be  too  much  money." 

"  Alfred's  not  so  modest,"  said  Louis,  laughing. 

"  To  be  sure  not ;  what's  the  use  of  being  told 
to  choose  what  you  like,  if  you  choose  some- 
thing you  don't  like ;  I  told  Ethelred  you'd  heaps 
of  money." 

"  Not  exactly  heaps,"  replied  Louis,  "  but 
enough  for  your  wants  to-day.  Now  we  must  go  ; 
I  have  to  call  at  another  place  as  we  go  home. 
Have  you  made  your  choice,  Ethelred?" 

The  purchases  were  paid  for,  and  they  left  the 
shop.      They   were   rather    late    when    the   last 


D.VSinVOOD    IKIOIIV.  77 

errand  was  done,  and  made  up  for  lost  time  by 
running  races  over  the  downs,  and  by  this  means 
reached  home  just  in  time  for  tea. 

As  Louis  took  liis  place  at  the  tea-ta])lc,  Frank 
handed  him  a  little  note. 

"  Ouvrez,  oavrcz  rite !  I  have  been  c.u  the 
stilts  of  curiosity  the  last  hour.  A  liveried 
Mcrcuiy  on  horseback  left  it  at  the  door  an  hour 
ago,  and  it  is  such  a  dainty  little  perfumed  billet 
that  Trevannion  Avould  have  rejoiced  to  touch ;  it 
Avould  not  have  defiled  even  his  white  hands." 

Louis  opened  it  Avith  some  curiosity. 

"  It  is  a  note  from  Mrs.  Fraser  inviting  you 
and  me  to  a  musical  party,  Frank,  on  Tuesday." 

"  Mrs.  Fraser  for  ever  ! "  exclaimed  Frank  ; 
"  she's  worth  lier  weight  in  bank  notes,  a  diamond 
of  the  first  water,  Louis,  eh?  1  think,  however, 
considering  that  I  am  the  senior  of  the  two 
cousins,  the  letter  ought  to  have  been  addressed 
to  me.  Of  course,  you  will  return  a  dainty 
answer  to-night." 

"  I  don't  think  I  can  get  it  sent  to-night,  it  is 
too  late  and  too  far." 

"  To  morrow,  then  ; — oh,  botheration  !  Fudge 
is  so  particular  about  Sunday  notes." 

"  I  dare  say  Monday  will  be  quite  soon  enough 
for  Mrs.  Fraser,"  said  Louis.  "  Our  going  or  not 
going  is  not  a  matter  of  such  vast  importance  to 
her." 

"  1  know  better,"  said  Frank  ;  "  she's  de- 
l)ending  upon  us  for  basses,  or  tenors,  or  some- 


78  DASH  WOOD    PRIORY. 

tiling  of  tlic  kind ;  and  if  it  were  not  particularly 
convenient  to  me  to  be  accommodating  enough 
to  give  myself  a  cliange,  I  shouldn't  go.  Besides, 
tall  and  engaging  young  men  are  always  at  a 
premium  at  parties." 

"  But  not  hobbledehoys,  Frank. '^ 

''  Speak  for  yourself,  my  friend,  — speak  for 
yourself,"  cried  Frank  ;  "  I  consider  myself  a 
man,  and,  having  worn  tails  and  stickups  for  two 
or  three  years,  feel  entitled  to  be  considered  so 
by  others.  In  a  few  weeks  I  shall  be  an  uni- 
versity man ;  who  talks  of  hobbledehoys  there, 
Mr.  Louis  ?  " 

''  Well,  I  beg  your  pardon,  I  am  sorry  I 
offended  your  dignity,"  replied  Louis.  "  We'll 
suppose  you  a  man  for  argument's  sake,  as  you 
say,  and  that  you  intend  to  give  Mrs.  Fraser  the 
felicity  of  seeing  you,  to  sing  Italian  trios,  &c. ; 
and  I  may  write  to  that  purport  ?  " 

"Assuredly,  for  they  give  an  excellent  spread, 
and  there  is  a  passable  re-union, — materials  for 
a  little  amusement.  Now  you  have  done,  let  us 
descend  and  talk, — as  the  ladies  do  direct^  they 
receive  an  invitation, — about  what  we  shall  wear. 
I  think,  Louis,"  he  added,  as  he  hooked  his  arm 
into  his  cousin's,  "  I  shall  wear  my  second-best 
black  trousers, — my  best  are  unfortunately  short, 
— and,  let  me  see,  my  sprigged  white  waistcoat. 
Do  you  think  that's  good  enough  ? — and  the  coat 
— oh,  ought  I  to  order  one  ?  Mine  has  no  satin 
lining ;  I  can't  possibly  go  without  a  satin  lining. 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  79 

It  IS  such  tun  to  hear  mamma  and  Charlotte  dis- 
cussing the  proprieties,  when  a  card  of  invitation 
comes.  Well,  now,  after  such  confidence,  what 
have  you  to  say  ?  " 

"  Suppose  I  am  not  going  ?  "  said  Louis. 

"  Well,  what  then  ?  "  said  Frank. 

"  Can  you  go  without  me  ?  " 

"  Did  I  not  tell  you  I  am  a  man  ?  " 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  that,  for  I  don't  intend 
to  go." 

"  Of  course,"  said  Frank. 

"  I  really  am  in  earnest,  Frank." 

Frank  suddenly  stopped  in  the  hall,  which  they 
had  now  reached,  and  dragging  Louis  to  the 
lamp,  looked  in  his  face  for  a  few  seconds  with 
deep  attention." 

"  Nonsense,  Louis  ;  you  don't  mean  it  ?  " 

"  I  do,  though." 

"  And  why,  in  the  name  of  all  patience  ? 
Here,  Smith  ! " 

"  Hush  !  "  said  Louis,  putting  his  hand  on  his 
cousin's  mouth  ;  "  I  cannot  e.\plain  reasons  to 
him.     Keep  your  counsel,  and  go  without  me." 

"  In  the  name  of  patience,  what  reason  can 
you  have  ?  " 

"  A  good  one,"  said  Louis.  "  But  I  tell  you, 
candidly,  I  do  not  expect  you  to  sympathi/.e  with 
it ;  and  perhaps  I  had  better  not  tell  you." 

"  No, — let's  hear  it,  pray,"  said  Frank,  impa- 
tiently. 


80  DASHWOOD   PRIORY. 

"  What  a  long  confabulation  you  are  having/' 
said  Smithy  coming  up  :  "  any  secrets  ?  " 

"YeSj"  said  Louis. 

"  I  think  I  heard  my  name  just  now." 

"  We  are  not  talking  of  you,"  said  Louis. 

"  Here's  Louis  declaring  he  doesn't  mean  to  go 
to  Mrs.  Fraser's  on  Tuesday/'  said  Frank. 

"  Not  go  ?  ''  exclaimed  one.  "  What's  the  row 
now  ?  " 

"  111  ?  "  exclaimed  another. 

"Why?"  asked  Smith.  "I  only  wish  Mrs. 
Fraser  had  asked  me.'^ 

Louis  detached  himself  from  Frank  rather  has- 
tily, and,  pushing  through  the  boys,  walked  deter- 
minedly away,  without  answering,  into  the  school- 
room, and  calling  Alfred  and  Ethelred,  set  to 
work  with  them. 

"  I  can't  tell  what's  come  to  him,"  said  Frank. 
^'  He's  offended,  I  suppose,  that  I  told  you.  Some 
new  sanctimonious  rigmarole  he  has  got  into  his 
head,  I  suppose.  He  need  not  have  been  such  a 
spoil-sport,  however.  I  am  sure  Doctor  won't  let 
me  go  by  myself.'' 

"  It's  very  sneaking  of  him/'  said  Smith. 

"  He's  always  such  a  wet  blanket  on  anything 
that's  merry,"  said  Frank. 

"  But  he  went  last  half  with  you." 

"  So  he  did,"  replied  Frank,  "  and  was  fuU  of 
qualms  about  the  music  that  was  srmg.  Didn't 
like  the  words  of  this^ — didn't  like  the  association 
of  that." 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  81 

*'But,  surely,  he  didn't  say  so  there?" 

"  Not  he,"  answered  Frank  ;  "  he  hasn't  phick 
enough.  He  looked  shy,  sang  everj'thing,  and 
solaced  his  conscience  by  abusing  everything,  as 
Ave  walked  home." 

"  "What  a  donkey  he  is,"  said  "Williams.  "  He 
wants  a  good  shaking,  to  get  these  absurdities  out 
of  him.     He'll  never  be  good  for  anything." 

"I  won't  allow  that,"  said  Sutton.  "He's  a 
great  deal  better  than  any  of  us,  though  we  may 
not  like  all  he  does.  But,  Digby,  does  he  object 
to  all  songs  ?     I've  often  heard  him  sing  them." 

"  Xo,  that's  where  it  is,"  replied  Frank,  "  and 
he  can  only  be  doing  this  on  purpose  to  hinder 
me  from  going." 

"  I  dare  say  it's  only  a  little  fun  :  he'll  go  fast 
enough,"  said  Louis'  defender.  ""We'll  laugh 
him  out  of  it." 

They  walked  a  few  minutes  in  the  playground, 
and  then  returned  in  a  body  to  the  house,  passing 
by  Louis  with  the  intention  of  badgering  him 
about  his  ungraciousness,  but  he  was  so  sur- 
rounded with  his  jirotcyos,  that  tliey  felt  it  wo-s  a 
hopeless  case,  and  a.s  he  afterwards  sjjcnt  an  hour 
with  Dr.  "Wilkinson,  he  did  not  come  among  them 
again  till  bed-time. 

Prayers  were  no  sooner  over  than  an  attack  on 
Louis  commenced,  simultaneously  with  the  rush 
upstairs.  In  vain  he  strove  to  run  up  without 
making  any  explicit  answers ;  he  was  pinioned  by 
a  ilozen  hands,  and  as  many  voices  declared  they 
u 


83  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

would  know  "  the  why  "  before  he  went  into  his 
room. 

"  It's  very  shabby  of  you,  Mortimer  \"  cried  one. 

"Now parson,  where's  the  sermon?"  exclaimed 
another. 

"  Put  him  up  in  the  pulpit ! "  said  a  third. 
"  Make  him  confess." 

"  You  give  me  no  time  to  speak/'  said  Louis, 
with  heightened  colour. 

"  Silence  in  the  court  \"  cried  Smith. 

"  Will  you  promise  to  let  me  go  when  I  have 
spoken?"  said  Louis. 

"When  you  say  you'll  go,  or  give  us  your 
reasons  for  not  going." 

"I  shall  do  neither  the  one  nor  the  other," 
answered  Louis.  "  I  do  not  mean  to  go  ;  I  have 
a  sufficient  reason,  which  I  will  tell  Frank,  though 
he  must  confess  he  has  not  behaved  very  gene- 
rously this  evening." 

"  I  like  your  talking  of  generosity,"  said  Prank. 

"  I  have  asked  the  Doctor's  leave  for  you  to  go 
alone,  and  he  has  given  it,"  said  Louis,  quickly. 
"  And  Frank,  I  beg  your  pardon  if  I  have  seemed 
rude  and  unkind,  but  you  really  gave  me  no  time 
to  explain  myself;  if  you  wish  for  a  reason,  I  will 
give  you  one  in  my  own  room." 

"  Much  obliged  to  you,"  replied  Frank,  scorn- 
fully. "But  I  can  tell  the  assembled  company 
your  reasons  as  well  as  you  can.  They  sing  a 
great  number  of  ungodly  songs  at  Mr.  Fraser's, 
gentlemen,  not  fit  for  a  saint  to  sing,  and  they 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  83 

happen  to  be  clothed  in  such  fascinating  guise;, 
that  he  is  tempted  when  he  is  there,  and  can't  say- 
he  won't  sing  them ;  so  he  keeps  out  of  the  way 
like  a  good  saint,  and  won't  go  to  please  such  a 
sinner  as  myself." 

Louis  stood  irresolutely  on  the  stairs  as  the 
hands  that  held  him  relaxed  their  hold.  "You 
do  not  understand  me,  Frank ;  I  cannot  expect  it." 

"  I  understand  every  bit  of  it,"  said  Frank, 
snccringly,  "better  than  you  do  yourself.  You 
are  a  rare  Methodist,  that  never  was  intended  for 
school,  making  yourself  the  laughing-stock  of 
every  one  that  sees  and  hears  you.  I'll  take  care 
Mr.  Fraser  knows  why  you  are  not  there." 

"  You  must,  if  you  will,"  said  Louis.  "  Good 
night.     Come,  let  me  pass  if  you  please." 

"  Ay,  pass  !  pass  !  pass  !  sainted  martyr,"  echoed 
on  all  sides,  while  Frank's  voice,  above  the  others, 
continued  in  a  tone  of  pique, — 

"  '  Ay,  do  persecute  me  j  1  loves  to  be  perse- 
cuted.' " 

Louis  ran  upstairs  and  took  refuge  in  his  own 
room,  and  tliankful  was  he  to  have  so  quiet  a 
refuge.  He  sat  down  panting  with  his  exertions, 
and  pressed  his  head  in  his  hands. 

How  precious  it  was  to  feci  thfit  onk  know 
everything,  and  though  not  a  word  couhl  toll 
his  wants  and  perplexities,  his  thoughts  were 
all  "known  long  before."  (3ncc  his  door  was 
rudely  unlatched,  as  his  schoolfcnows  passed,  and 
thrown  wide  open,  and  after  he  ha<l  recloscd  it 
g2 


84  DASHWOOD   PKIORY. 

and  locked  it,  two  or  three  tumbled  against  it. 
The  mirth  of  his  aggressors  was  at  last  cut 
short,  before  they  reached  their  rooms,  by  a 
stern  voice. 

"  Young  gentlemen  !  I  am  thoroughly  ashamed 
of  you.  Digby !  is  this  worthy  of  you  ?  But 
that  I  know  it  would  be  a  trouble  to  Mortimer,  I 
would  not  trust  you  by  yourself  on  Tuesday  night. 
Remember,  you  owe  it  to  him  that  I  do  not  at 
once  say  you  shall  not  go.  If  I  hear  any  more  of 
this,  young  gentlemen,  I  shall  visit  it  severely  on 
you  all." 

He  then  waited  on  the  landing  till  each  was  in 
his  room. 

Frank's  worst  feelings  were  now  in  the  ascend- 
ant, and  Louis  reaped  the  fruits  in  studied  coldness 
and  marked  neglect  from  his  cousin  and  his  par- 
tizans  the  next  morning ;  but  in  the  course  of  the 
afternoon  he  watched  his  opportunity  when  Frank 
was  upstairs,  and  persuaded  him  to  come  into  his 
room  for  a  few  minutes.  "  Only  a  few  minutes, 
Frank,"  he  said.  Frank's  lip  curled,  and  he 
hesitated,  but  finally,  ungraciously  allowed  himself 
to  be  led  in,  though  he  would  only  stand  near  the 
door,  M-ith  a  cloudy  brow,  as  if  he  just  endured 
the  explanation  Louis  wished  to  give.  "  Frank, 
I  cannot  tell  you  how  sorry  I  am  that  we  should 
quarrel." 

"  It's  your  own  affair,"  said  Frank,  sullenly. 

"  You  know  I  cannot  tell  all  the  boys  what  I 
tell  you,  Frank.     You  are  quite  right  about  the 


UASIIUOOD     PllIORY.  85 

reason  why  I  cauuot  go  to  the  party.  I  am  not 
sure,  in  the  first  place,  that  the  excitement  wouUl 
not  be  very  bad  for  mc  in  tlic  middle  of  school ; 
and  then,  I  candidly  confess,  that  I  cannot  bear 
the  things  they  sing.  Are  Christian  voices 
intended  to  be  used  in  such  love  songs  and 
Bacchanalian  ditties  ?  I  feel,  at  least,  that  /  am 
\vrong  in  singing  them ;  I  cannot  think  I  do  it  ta 
God's  glory." 

"  But  who  thinks  of  the  meaning  of  Italian 
songs  ?  it  is  but  so  many  syllables,"  said  Frank. 

"If  I  did  not  understand  them  I  should  never 
have  thought  of  it :  I  believe  half  the  people 
that  sing  those  things  do  not  understand  a  word, 
and  they  are  no  more  to  them  than  do,  re,  mi,  fa ; 
but  my  Latin  helps  me  a  little;  and  then  again, 
those  English  things  we  sang  last  I  did  not 
admire." 

"  It's  very  polite  of  you  to  condemn  every  one 
else  as  you  do,"  replied  Frank. 

"  I  do  not  condemn  others,"  said  Louis, 
eagerly ;  "  I  only  know  what  is  best  for  myself. 
If  others  do  not  think  there  is  any  harm,  there  is 
none,  perhaps,  for  them ;  but  as  I  do,  it  cannot 
be  riglit  for  me.  Do  not  think  me  unkind," 
he  added,  earnestly;  "you  cannot  tell  how  very 
hard  I  have  found  it  to  say  that  I  would  not 
go,  if  it  were  but  for  your  sake.  I  knew  you 
would  not  see  it,  Frank,  but  that  ought  not  to 
hinder  me  in  doing  what  I  know  is  right  lor  nic. 
I  am   too  much   influenced   l)v  others,   and  now 


86  DASHWOOD   PEIOEY. 

Reginald  and  Hamilton  are  both  gone,  I  confess 
I  am  rather  afraid  of  myself/^ 

"  But  surely  you  can  refuse  to  sing  those  things 
you  don't  hke ;  there  are  plenty  of  harmless  ones 
besides." 

Louis  shook  his  head.  "  You  know  I  had  not 
courage  before,  and  I  dare  not  hope  I  should 
again,  if  I  put  myself  in  the  way.  We  cannot 
judge  for  one  another,  Frank.  I  feel  that  these 
assemblies  do  not  suit  me,  Frank, — that  they  dis- 
tract me  too  much ;  and  I  feel  sure  I  ought  not 
to  go." 

"  But,"  persisted  Frank,  "  you  sing  heaps  of 
things  of  your  own  that  I  think  are  little,  if  any, 
better  than  Mrs.  Fraser's  favourites." 

"Well,  I  don't  think  them  so,"  said  Louis, 
gently.  "  The  right  or  wrong  of  an  action 
depends  upon  our  feeling  of  it,  often :  if  our 
consciences  cannot  believe  it  right,  it  must  be 
wrong  to  us,  even  though  all  the  world  call  it 
harmless.  I  do  not  mean  to  say,  Frank,  that  we 
know  all  right  and  wrong  by  our  feelings ;  but  if 
we  think  a  thing  wrong,  it  becomes  wrong  to  us. 
I  always  try  to  ask  myself  when  I  am  thinking  of 
doing  anything, — Can  I  do  this  to  God's  glory  ? 
and  if  I  cannot  answer  yes,  I  feel  I  ought  not  to 
do  it." 

"Well,  you've  a  right  to  your  own  way  of 
thinking,"  said  Frank,  shortly;  "but  like  many 
of  your  ways,  it  is  rather  an  odd  one.  There 
ought  to  be  a  new  world  for  you  saints." 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  87 

"There  is  an  old  madrigal  wc  sing  at  home 
sometimes,"  said  Louis,  "that  expresses  my  feel- 
ings quite  on  love-sick  poetry  : — " 

"  '  Oh,  that  the  learned  poets  of  this  time. 
Who  in  a  love-sick  line  so  well  can  speak, 
Would  not  consume  good  wits  in  hateful  rhyme. 
But  with  deep  care  some  better  subject  seek  : 
For  if  their  music  please  in  earthly  things, 
How  would  it  sound  if  strung  with  heavenly  strings.*" 

"  Well,  I  suppose  you  have  said  all  you  have  to 
say,"  said  Frank. 

"  Are  we  friends,  Frank  ?"  said  Louis,  holding 
out  liis  hand. 

Frank  took  it  coldly,  and  then  left  the  room. 
For  some  days  he  and  some  of  his  adherents  were 
very  cool  towards  Louis,  till  some  quiet  act  of 
self-denial  charmed  them  out  of  their  frigidity, 
and  his  meekness  was  rewarded  by  a  complete 
restoration  to  their  favour. 


88  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

"  Tliou  hast  also  given  me  the  shield  of  Thy  salvatiou  ;  and 
Thy  right  hand  hath  holden  me  up,  and  Thy  gentleness  hath 
made  me  great.  Thou  hast  enlarged  my  steps  under  me,  that 
my  feet  did  not  slip. 

"  My  flesh  and  my  heart  faileth,  but  God  is  the  strength  of 
my  heart,  and  my  portion  for  ever." — Psalms,  xviii.  35,  36  ; 
Ixxiii.  26. 

It  was  some  days  before  Ferrers ,  summoned  up 
courage  or  found  time  to  return  Louis'  call. 
Louis  had  informed  Dr.  Wilkinson  of  all  that  had 
passed,  and  had  obtained  his  permission  to  give 
Ferrers  audience  in  the  Doctors  private  dining- 
room.  Dr.  Wilkinson  also  invited  Ferrers  to 
spend  the  evening  with  him,  and  subsequentlj'- 
followed  up  all  Louis'  kind  endeavours  for  his 
benefit,  by  stimulating  him,  assisting  his  studies, 
and  cheering  him,  with  the  hope  of  doing  some- 
thing for  the  future  for  himself. 

It  must  not,  however,  be  supposed  that  the 
Doctor  encouraged  these  efforts  of  his  old  pupil 
by  the  air-castles  Louis  drew  of  restoration  to  his 
former  state  of  life.  The  Doctor's,  though  less 
delightful,  was  a  more  healthy  view,  when  he  set 
before  him  contentment  with  his  present  lot,  and 
urged  him  to  a  desire  of  doing  the  work  given 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  89* 

liim  in  the  station  to  which  he  had  been  so  plainly- 
called. 

Michaelmas;,  at  length,  arrived.     Frank  Digby 
bade  a  final  adieu  to  his  school  hfe,  and  entered  at 
Cambridge.     Louis  being  now  one   of  the  elder 
boys  in  the    school,  and  having  been  a  twelve- 
month in  the  first  class,  his  master  stimulated  him 
to  keep  the  first  place  there.     There  were  one  or 
two  in  the  class  of  greater  industry  and  energy 
than  himself — of  whom  Charles  Clifton  was  one, 
— who  gave  him  considcralile  trouble  in  maintain- 
ing  this  situation.     Many  times  he  felt  inclined 
to  yield  the  struggle,  and  only  roused  himself  by 
the  reflection,  "  It  is  my  duty,"  to  continue  the 
contest,  which  was,  though  he  was  unconscious  of 
it,  too  much  for  his   strength.     He   had  grown 
very  fast  for  some  months  ;    but  Dr.  Wilkinson 
had  become  so  accustomed  to  his  attenuated  figure 
and  pale  face  that  they  caused  no  anxiety,  espe- 
cially   as   his   efforts   were   in    no    way  relaxed ; 
and  knowing  Louis'  constitutional  indolence  and 
dreaminess,   he  urged  him  on  to  renewed  exer- 
tions, in  the  hope  of  having  his   favourite   pupil 
his  iiead  boy,  knowing  nothing  of  the  little  time 
Louis   took   for    recreation, — how   constantly   all, 
and  more  than  all,  his  t.pare  time   was  given  to 
others, — how  anxious  he  was  to   do  all  the  good 
that  lay  in  his  little  sphere, — that,   rather  than 
relinquish   any  of  his  plans  of  usefulness  among 
lus  younger  schoolfellows,  he  often  sat  up  in  his 
own  room  an  hour  or  two  at  night,   and  rose  an 


90  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

hour  earlier  in  the  morning  to  prepare  his  own 
lessons.  In  order  to  give  him  every  advantage 
in  his  power^  Dr.  Wilkinson  often  gave  him 
private  lessons  after  school  hours ;  and  this  un- 
ceasing routine  at  last  brought  its  attendant  train 
of  weariness^  languor^  violent  headaches^  and 
sleepless  nights.  But^  in  spite  of  fits  of  yavrning^ 
and  greater  disinclination  than  ever  to  general 
exertion,  Louis  had  now  so  thoroughly  attained 
to  a  habit  of  regular  and  constant  employment, 
and  had  so  great  a  fear  of  neglecting  any  talent 
committed  to  him,  that  he  worked  steadily  and 
patiently  on,  winning  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
all,  and  the  warm  love  of  many  around  him.  The 
second  quarter  was  nearly  over,  the  examination 
papers  were  just  given  out,  and  Louis  had  been 
consulting  with  idle  Alfred  one  morning  on  his 
plans  of  operation,  and  had  dismissed  him  a  few 
minutes  before  the  school-bell  rang,  to  look  over 
a  translation  of  a  portion  of  the  CEdipus  Tja'annus 
of  Sophocles,  which  he  liad  been  rendering  into 
English  verse.  His  head  swam  so  much  that  he 
could  hardly  decipher  the  letters,  and,  after  a 
vain  attempt  to  collect  his  ideas  or  to  guide  his 
pen,  he  laid  it  aside,  and  went  into  the  open  air 
to  revive  himself.  As  he  passed  out  of  the  school- 
room, Alfred  caught  his  liand.  "  You  are  ill, 
Louis.  I  am  sure  you  are.  What  can  I  get  for 
you  ?  " 

"  Only  give  me  your  shoulder  a  few  minutes,'^ 
he  replied,  faintly.     ^'  Air, — I  want  air.'' 


DASnWOOD    PKIORY.  91 

"  Open  the  door,  Smith/'  cried  Alfred ;  "  Louis 
is  ill/' 

"  Hallo,  Mortimer ! "  exclaimed  Smith,  as  he 
flung  open  the  portal.  "  Are  you  your  own 
wraith?  Why,  man  alive,  what's  come  over 
you?  There,  heaven's  own  breeze  will  refresh 
you.  You  get  too  little  of  heaven's  breezes.  Why 
don't  you  get  out  oftener  ?" 

Louis  thanked  him  with  a  smile,  and  with  his 
and  Alfred's  help  got  to  a  seat  a  little  beyond 
ihe  door,  and  in  a  few  minutes  seemed  much 
better. 

"  What  was  the  matter?"  asked  Smith,  kindly. 
"  I'll  tell  Doctor  you  are  not  fit  to  come  into 
class  this  morning;  you've  got  such  white  lips, 
and  look  like  a  fainting  lady.  I'll  tell  you  what, 
Louis,"  he  added,  "  you  do  too  much  and  you're 
not  strong  enough ;  we've  said  so  hundreds  of 
times — you're  too  good  by  far :  when  you've  got 
so  much  to  do  for  yourself,  you  shouldn't  do  so 
much  for  others  ;  flesh  and  blood  won't  stand  it." 

"  I  am  sure  I  think  enough  of  myself,"  replied 
Louis. 

"  Lots  of  us  wish  we  were  like  you  in  some 
things,"  said  Smith,  "  but  it  is  not  our  nature,  you 
know  ;  I'll  tell  you  what,  Louis, — it  is  not  an  easy 
thing  to  go  on  steadily  in  the  face  of  ridicule, 
persevering  in  doing  all  you  can  for  every  one, 
and  I  know  that  there  is  scarcely  one  of  the  fellows 
that  lias  laughed  at  you,  that  doesn't  feel  how 
much  better  you  arc  than  any  of  us,  and  doesn't 


92  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"wish  to  be  like  you,  because  yours  isn't  all  talk, 
like  some  people's  religion." 

"Are  you  better,  Mortimer?"  asked  several 
voices. 

He  Avas  presently  surrounded  by  several  mem- 
bers of  the  first  class. — "  What's  the  matter  ?  " 

"  Thank  you,  I  am  quite  well,  now,"  said  Louis, 
rising.  "  There's  the  school-bell.  How  kind  you 
all  are." 

"  Come,  that's  a  good  storj' !  You  are  sarcastic 
this  morning,"  said  another. 

"  Come,  St.  Louis,  take  my  arm,"  said  a  third ; 
"  you're  a  good  sort  of  fellow,  in  spite  of  your 
methodism.  You  look  more  like  heaven  than 
earth  at  present.  I  think  your  mother  will  say 
the  holidays  don't  come  too  soon." 

Louis  protested  that  he  was  quite  well  again, 
and  they  proceeded  to  the  class-room,  and  soon 
the  business  of  the  day  commenced.  Louis  took 
his  place  as  head  of  the  first  class,  and  began  to 
read  aloud  his  poetical  translation.  He  had  pro- 
ceeded nearly  half  through,  when  the  paper  ceased 
to  be  legible,  the  same  misty  swimming  of  the 
head  returning ;  and  scarcely  conscious  of  an  ex- 
clamation from  his  master  and  class-fellows  in  a 
breath,  he  fell  insensible  on  the  floor,  his  fall  a 
little  broken  by  Smith,  who  stood  near  him. 

A  scene  of  confusion  ensued,  and  when  Louis 
opened  his  eyes,  he  found  himself  supported  in  his 
master's  arms,  raised  upon  two  chairs  near  the 
open  window;    one   or   two   ser»;ants,   and  Mrs. 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  93 

Wilkinson  near  him  with  cold  water  and  other 
restoratives.  The  first  words  he  heard  before  he 
opened  his  eyes  were  from  liis  master  :  "  Poor 
fellow  !  I  ought  to  have  guarded  against  this ;  ho 
is  quite  overdone."  Louis  tried  to  speak,  but  was 
only  able  to  turn  a  look  of  earnest  aftection  on 
his  ma.ster,  deprecating  his  self-accusation. 

It  was  many  minutes  before  he  could  speak  so 
a.s  to  be  intelligible.  The  utmost  concern  was  on 
the  faces  of  all  present ;  one  of  the  servants  was 
crying,  and  his  schoolfellows  stood  in  a  kind  of 
awestruck  silence,  looking  as  if  they  never  ex- 
pected him  to  move  again. 

Dr.  "Wilkinson  sjioke  cheerfully  to  him,  and  ;;s 
soon  as  he  appeared  strong  enough,  proposed  his 
removal  to  the  drawing-room  sofa.  He  had  just 
.strength  enough  to  reach  it,  with  the  johit  assist- 
ance of  the  Doctor  and  one  of  his  schoolfellows, 
when  he  fainted  again.  Dr.  Wilkinson  sent  im- 
mediately for  the  medical  man,  and  was  seriously 
alarmed  at  the  length  of  this  second  fit.  It  was 
more  than  an  hour  before  Smith,  who  had  run 
full  speed  for  the  doctor,  returned,  and  Ijy  this 
time  Louis  was  better,  and  comfortably  established 
iiear  the  drawing-room  fire,  with  a  warm  shawl 
of  Mrs.  Wilkinson's  over  his  feet.  The  Doctor 
had  been  obliged  to  leave  him,  but  Mrs.  W  ilUin- 
son  was  sitting  by  him,  and  caring  most  tenderly 
for  all  his  possible  wants.  He  lay  very  cpiietly 
gazing  out  of  the  window,  abuost  too  weiik  to 
wonder  how  he  came  there. 


94  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  Well,  my  young  friend,  I  hear  a  curious  tale 
of  you.  IMio  ever  heard  of  a  school-boy  fainting  ?" 
said  the  medical  gentleman.  "You  are  better 
now,  are  you  not  ?" 

Louis  smiled, 

"  He  is  very  weak,  Mr.  WhaUey,"  said  Mrs. 
Wilkinson. 

The  doctor  sat  down  by  Louis,  and  after  hearing 
all  that  was  to  be  heard,  cheerfully  took  his  leave, 
promising  to  send  some  medicine,  and,  asking  to  see 
Dr.  Wilkinson  in  another  room,  shook  hands  with 
the  invalid.    Louis  looked  very  sorrowfully  at  him. 

"  What  do  you  mean  to  ask  by  that  earnest 
look?"  said  the  gentleman. 

"  Am  I  in  danger  ?" 

"  I  thought  so,"  rephed  Mr.  Whalley,  kindly. 
"No,  cheer  up;  you  want  taking  care  of. 
You  must  put  by  Latin  and  Greek,  and  all  the 
E.  D.  for  a  time,  and  I  hope  we  shall  soon  see 
'  Richard  himself  again.'  You  were  never  very 
robust,  I  believe;  I  shall  order  the  very  accept- 
able prescription  of  home  for  you  as  soon  as  you 
are  a  httle  better;  but  don't  frighten  yourself, 
there's  no  danger." 

Louis'  pale  countenance  flushed,  and  he 
clasped  his  hands.  "I  am  very  foolish,"  he 
murmured  inwardly ;  "  but,  oh  my  Father,  my 
heart  and  flesh  faileth." 

Mr.  Whalley  wished  him  good-bye  and  left  the 
room ;  and  soon  calmed  and  pacified,  Louis  fell 
into  a  quiet  sleep. 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  95 

Mr.  Whalley  advised  that  his  parents  should  be 
written  to,  and  that  he  should  be  removed  as  soon 
as  possible.  "  lie  -wants  perfect  rest  and  quiet ; 
and  a  mother's  sympathy  will  be  the  best  thing 
for  him  :  I  do  not  think  his  lungs  are  affected, 
but  in  his  weak  state  I  should  advise  Torquay  or 
the  Isle  of  Wight  for  the  Avinter.  He  seems  a 
delicate  plant,  but  they  often  weather  a  storm 
that  splits  the  tree." 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  kindness  and  atten- 
tion shown  to  Louis  by  his  master  and  Mrs.  Wil- 
kinson. He  was  removed  to  a  light  and  prettily- 
famished  room  on  a  cheerful  side  of  the  house, 
away  from  all  noise,  and  here  he  lay  the  greater 
part  of  the  day,  being  carried  down  in  the  evening 
to  the  drawing-room  sofa.  His  weakness  was  so 
excessive  that  a  sudden  noise  would  bring  on  a 
fainting  fit,  and  Dr.  Wilkinson  would  not  allow 
him  to  risk  anything  by  walking  to  the  drawing- 
room.  It  was  the  middle  of  the  third  day  after 
his  first  attack  that  his  parents  ai'rived,  and  were 
almost  immediately  shown  up  into  his  room. 
He  was  asleep,  and  they  stood  for  some  time 
looking  silently  on  his  thin  white  face,  noticing 
his  sunken  eyes,  with  the  black  rings  around 
them,  and  his  long  white  fingers  that  lay  on  the 
bed-clothes.  Before  he  awoke  they  retired  out  of 
sight,  that  he  might  be  quietly  informed  of  their 
arrival ;  for  cjuietly  as  it  was  told  him  it  was 
almost  too  much  for  iiim. 

It  was  several  days  before  he  was  strong  enough 


96  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

to  be  removed,  even  to  Clifton,  where  Mr.  Mortimer 
had  taken  lodgings  in  Louis^  favourite  crescent. 
Diiring  these  few  days  Mr.  Mortimer  mixed  now 
and  then  with  the  boys,  and  on  every  side  he 
heard,  from  masters  and  pupils,  the  praises  of  his 
dear  boy.  Alfred,  whose  grief  was  excessive,  had 
a  general  invitation  to  come  to  York-crescent 
whenever  Dr.  Wilkinson  would  allow  him.  At 
length  Louis  was  removed,  and  when  in  the 
crescent,  by  the  instrumentality  of  careful  nursing 
and  daily  airings,  he  gradually  grew  strong  enough 
to  take  a  longer  journey,  and  by  the  united  advice 
of  several  medical  men,  he  set  out  for  Torquay 
one  fine  day  in  the  middle  of  December.  There 
was  then  no  railway  between  Bristol  and  Exeter, 
and  their  journey  was  performed  in  a  post-chaise. 
Louis  had  been  very  much  depressed  for  some 
days  before  his  departure,  and  this  morning  he 
was  more  so  than  ever.  He  felt  he  could  not 
confess  to  his  parents  why  he  dreaded  the  change, 
and  how  the  name  of  Torquay  sounded  as  a  knell 
to  him.  Long  had  he  knelt  that  morning  in 
prayer  that  it  might  be  his  Heavenly  Father's  will 
that  he  might  recover  his  strength ;  earnestly  had 
lie  pleaded  the  tears  and  effectual  petition  of 
Hezekiah  ;  like  him  he  had  Avcpt  sore  ;  and  then 
he  felt  that  his  will  was  unsubdued,  and  he 
mourned  that  he  could  not  rejoice  in  the  thought 
of  that  glorious  deliverance  from  sin  and  the  body 
of  death.  All  his  thoughts  seemed  dark  and 
sorrowful,  and  all  he  cQuJd  .say  was,  "  O  Lord ! 


DASIIWOOD    PRIORY.  97 

send  out  Thy  light  and  truth;  let  them  lead  me. 
Why  art  thou  east  down,  O  my  soul  ?  Thou  seest 
through  a  glass  darkly."  And  in  the  midst  of 
all  he  could  say,  tremblingly,  "  Though  I  Avalk 
in  darkness,  the  Lord  shall  be  a  light  unto  me." 
And  was  this  fainting  confidence  confounded? 
Oh,  how  precious  is  that  promise  that  tlic  tender 
Saviour  ■will  not  break  even  the  bruised  reed. 
Louis  often  thought  of  those  sweet  words  in 
Isaiah,  "  Who  is  among  you  that  fearcth  the 
Lord,  that  obcyeth  the  voice  of  His  servant,  that 
walkcth  in  darkness,  and  hath  no  light  ?  let  him 
trust  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  stay  upon  his 
God."  "Tlie  enemy  cried  out  fast"  against  him, 
but  underueatli  the  fainting  child  of  God  are 
"  the  everlasting  arms,"  even  when  he  sees  them 
not;  and  in  his  greatest  despondency  he  had  a 
sure  hope,  that  all  things  sliall  work  together  for 
good  to  them  that  love  God.  "  I  will  bring  her 
into  the  valley  of  Achor,  and  there  will  I  speak 
comfort ubhj  (to  her  heart) ;"  and  during  these 
seasons  of  trouble,  who  shall  say  how  often  and 
liow  sweetly  the  Lord  speaks  to  tlie  liearts  of  Ilis 
own.  It  was  with  a  chastened  and  trusting, 
though  yet  not  joyful  spirit,  that  Louis  left 
the  scene  of  his  silent  communings.  "I  will 
trust,  and  not  be  afraid,"  was  tlie  reiterated 
language  of  his  heart :  "  Though  lie  slay  mc, 
yet  will  I  trust  in  Him."  His  father  tenderly 
assisted  him  down  the  long  ilight  of  steps  from 
the  terrace  to  the  flitiisc,  and  tlicrc  at  the  door 


98  DASHWOOD    PHIORY. 

Stood  poor  Ferrers.  He  shrank  back  a  little  as 
Mr.  jMortimer  approached ;  but  Louis  caught  sight 
of  him,  and  stopping,  he  held  out  his  hand  with 
a  smile. 

"This  is  very  kind  of  you,  Ferrers.  This  is 
my  schoolfellow,  William  Ferrers,  father." 

Mr.  Mortimer  made  some  kind  remarks,  but 
he  was  anxious  to  get  his  son  into  the  carriage, 
and  shortened  the  interview. 

"  Will  you  write  to  me,  Ferrers  ?  "  asked  Louis, 
when  he  was  seated. 

"  I  shall  be  very  glad,"  said  Ferrers,  shortly. 
He  attempted  to  say  something,  but  seemed 
unable,  and,  putting  a  little  parcel  into  Louis' 
hand,  he  walked  away  at  a  rapid  rate.  Louis' 
father  and  mother  were  both  struck  with  his 
agitated  manner,  but  they  made  no  remark  on 
it  to  Louis  just  then.  They  made  him  take  pos- 
session of  one  seat  in  the  carriage,  and  bolstered 
him  up  comfortably  with  cushions.  As  the  car- 
riage passed  in  front  of  Clifton  church,  Louis 
raised  himself,  and  gazed  earnestly  on  the  magni- 
ficent view. 

"  I  think,"  said  his  mother,  "  that  is  the  finest 
peep  in  Clifton." 

"I  think  so  too,"  replied  Louis,  quietly;  and  a 
moment  after  he  added,  "  Oh,  mamma !  what  a 
thing  it  is  to  live  !  What  a  world  this  would  be, 
if  there  were  no  sin  !  I  cannot  think  that  there 
can  be  a  more  beautiful  place  than  this  world, 
when  the  sons  of  God  shouted  at  its  creation  ! 


DASinVOOl)    PKIOKY.  99 

Poes  not  everything  seem  c^ing,  '  Come^  Lord 
Jesus  ! '  AVlicn  He  comes,  there  shall  be  no  more 
sorrow,  nor  crying,  nor  death ;  the  inhabitants 
shall  not  say  '  I  am  sick,'  and  they  shall  all  be 
righteous." 

"  '  The  earnest  expectation  of  the  creature  wait- 
eth  for  the  manifestation  of  the  sons  of  God,' " 
said  ]\Ir.  Mortimer. 

'•'  Oh,  father  ! "  said  Louis,  earnestly,  "  I  feel 
as  if  I  could  never  get  beyond  that  verse  in  that 
chapter.  It  seems  as  if  that  verse  went  up  with 
a  cry  to  God  like  the  cry  of  the  children  of 
Israel.  '  The  whole  creation  groaneth  and  tra- 
vaileth,  and  ourselves  also,  that  have  received  the 
first-fruits  of  the  Spirit.'  " 

"  '  Though  the  vision  tarry,  wait  for  it,' "  said 
his  mother  :  "  "^  In  the  end  it  shall  come.'  '  lie 
that  bclieveth  in  the  Lord  shall  not  make  hi\ste, 
neither  shall  he  be  confounded,'  Louis." 

"  But  you  should  look  to  the  end  of  the  chap- 
ter, and  lean  on  the  glorious  conclusion,"  said 
his  father.  "  '  What  shall  separate  us  from  tlu; 
love  of  Christ  ? '  He  hath  loved  us  with  an 
everlasting  love,  and  nothing  can  separate  us. 
'Though  clouds  and  darkness  are  round  about 
Him,  yet  rii;hteousncss  and  judgment  are  the 
habitation  of  His  throne.'  He  is  faithful,  iny 
dear  boy ;  He  cannot  deny  himself.  In  Christ 
we  are  complete,  and  altogether  lovely  in  His 
sight,  and  He  knows  the  thoughts  that  He  has 
to  us, — thoughts  of  peace,  and  not  of  evil.  ^Vnd 
II  3 


100  DASinVOOD    PRIORY. 

noWj  my  boy,  you  must  rest  quietly,  and  think  of 
these  precious  truths.  Let  His  "word  be  the  joy 
and  rejoicing  of  your  heart." 

Louis  did  as  desired ;  and  it  seemed  as  if  his 
father  had  comprehended  the  state  of  his  mind, 
for  the  thoughts  of  peace  found  a  resting-place  in 
his  mind,  and  he  lay  still  in  calm  happiness,  and 
neither  spoke  nor  moved  till  the  fu'st  stage  was 
completed. 

When  they  were  comfortably  housed  that  night 
in  the  best  inn  in  Bridgewater,  he  enlarged  a 
little  to  his  father  on  Ferrers' s  history,  and  opened 
the  little  parcel,  Avhich  he  found  contained  an  old 
edition  of  Watts's  "  Happiness  of  Separate  Spirits." 
In  the  envelope  were  a  few  lines. 

"  Dear  Louis, — 
"  You  wished  to  see  this  book  a  short  time  ago. 
I  could  not  get  a  new  edition,  and  I  have  been  a 
long  time  hunting  in  the  old-book  shops  for  this. 
I  am  glad  I  have  found  it  at  last,  and  I  know  I 
need  not  apologize  for  its  antiquity.  May  Tor- 
quay do  all  that  your  friends  must  wish. 
"  Yours  gratefully, 

"  W.  Ferrers." 

Louis  could  not  talk  enough  of  Ferrers's  kind- 
ness in  hunting  about  for  this  book.  It  is  to  be 
remarked,  generally,  that  they  who  think  they 
cannot  do  enough  for  others,  always  esteem  most 
gratefully  a  little  service  done  to  themselves. 


DASHWOOD    PlllORY.  101 


CHAPTER  YII. 


"  Wliom  have  I  in  Heaven  but  Thee  ' 


I  MLST  now  beg  my  reader  to  accompany  me  to  a 
pretty  and  convenient  low-built  house^  surrounded 
by  a  nice  little  garden,  which  stands  at  one  extre- 
mity of  a  small  sweeping  bay  at  Torquay.  The 
house  is  built  so  close  to  the  water's  edge,  that  at 
higli  water  the  sea  comes  up  to  the  garden  rail- 
ings ;  and  here,  upon  the  rustic  garden-seats,  have 
invalids,  time  out  of  mind,  Avatehed  the  rise  and 
fall  of  the  roaring  sea.  I  do  not  know  it  suffi- 
ciently well  to  describe  it  more  accurately,  that 
it  may  be  recognised  as  the  temporary  dwelling- 
place  of  Louis  ^lortimer  and  Vernon  Digby, — for 
Vernon,  with  his  fatlier,  mother,  and  eldest  sister, 
were  there  awaiting  Louis'  arrival. 

Vernon's  cruise  on  the  INIeditcrranean  had 
apparently  restored  his  health,  after  the  violent 
attack  alluded  to  in  a  former  chapter  ;  but  all  liis 
friends  had  been  very  anxious  that  he  should 
forego  the  ^Michaelmas  and  Christmas  terms,  iw, 
in  the  eyes  of  many,  there  was  still  considerable 
delicacy  about  him.  Vernon  would,  however, 
hear  of  no  further  nursing,  as  the  doctoi-s  had 
pronounced   him   well.      A    little    cough,    small 


102  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

appetite^  and  obvious  restlessness,  had  made  his 
father  rather  uneasy  on  his  return  for  the  Christ- 
mas vacation;  and  though  no  danger  was  appre- 
hended by  the  consulting  physician,  Devonshire 
was  recommended,  as  Vernon  said,  "  just  to  please 
Sir  Francis ; ''  and  it  was  agreed  that  the  invalids 
should  share  the  same  lodgings  in  the  same 
locality. 

It  was  about  fiT  e  o'clock  in  the  evening  when 
the  Mortimers  arrived  at  their  new  abode.  Sir 
Francis  and  Lady  Digby,  with  their  children, 
were  at  the  garden-gate  to  receive  them,  and 
Vernon  almost  lilted  his  cousin  from  the  carriage 
into  the  house.  The  fire  was  blazing  cheerfully, 
the  curtains  drawn,  and  a  luxm'ious-looking  sofa 
near  the  fire  for  Louis.  Candles  were  lighted, 
— and  a  piano  in  the  room,  with  plenty  of  books 
and  elegancies,  gave  it  quite  a  home  appear- 
ance. 

"  How  snug  you  are,''  exclaimed  Mrs.  Morti- 
mer ;  "  I  think  I  shall  always  send  you  as  pioneers 
when  I  want  lodgings.  This  makes  us  feel  quite 
cheerful  at  once,  does  it  not,  Louis  ?" 

"  Louis  looks  quite  doly,  as  we  say  in  Yorkshire," 
remarked  Vernon,  who  had  by  this  time  placed 
his  cousin  on  the  sofa,  and  with  Charlotte's  assist- 
ance was  divesting  him  of  his  wrappings.  "  What 
Egyptian  mummies  our  fond  mothers  make  of  us, 
Louis,  poor  emancipated  infidels  as  we  are,  as  an 
old  man  once  said  of  himself  near  us.  You  don't 
look  quite  emaciated  yet,  as  a  body  may  say;  as 


DASH  WOOD    PRIORY.  103 

for  me^  me  void  !  tout-a-fait  gros.  I  am  afraid  I 
cannot  even  cleai'  my  throaty  I  am  so  well," 

Louis  was  too  much  exhausted  to  do  more  than 
smile,  and  Vernon  continued  his  attentions  with 
cheerful  discretion,  while  Lady  Digby  pointed  out 
the  convenience  of  their  new  house  to  her  sister. 

"  Look  here,"  she  said,  opening  a  door  into  an 
adjoining  room,  where  a  fire  sent  forth  a  cheerful 
flicker;  "here  is  Louis'  room;  he  will  not  have 
far  to  go,  and  yours  opens  out  of  it.  Poor  dear 
fellow !  I  thought  it  would  be  so  convenient  for 
him.  We  have  two  sitting-rooms  besides  this, 
and  we  will  leave  him  in  possession  when  he 
cannot  bear  our  voice ;  you  shall  see  our  rooms 
to-morrow ;  you  are  too  tired  for  further  inspec- 
tion to-night.  I  hope  Torquay  will  do  all  for 
Louis  that  it  has  done  for  Vernon ;  not  that  I  ever 
thought  there  was  much  the  matter  with  him 
when  he  came  home,  only  a  little  cough,  and  now 
that  seems  quite  to  have  left  him.  Dear  boy,  he 
has  such  excellent  spirits  ;  but  his  father  is  angry 
very  often  that  he  docs  not  take  proper  care  of 
himself.  He  wants  such  constant  watchfulness 
not  to  stay  out  too  long  in  the  afternoon,  and  will 
go  into  the  garden  without  his  great-coat,  and  I 
am  afraid  he  over-fatigues  himself  sometimes, 
though  Dr.  L.  says  moderate  exercise  will  not 
Iiurt  him." 

"lie  is  looking  well,"  said  Mrs.  Mortimer. 

"  Yes,  he  is ;  we  are  grown  quite  old-fashioned 
folks.     Dr.  L.  says  Vernon  should  dine  early,  so 


104  DASIIWOOD    PRIORY. 

we  all  dine  at  one,  and  take  tea  at  six.  Francis 
adopts  it  quite  merrily;  lie  is  so  "wrapped  up  in 
Vernon,  I  think  he  "would  do  anything  for  his 
good.  "Will  our  hours  suit  you?  I  am  so  glad 
we  are  together;  we  shall  be  so  happy.'' 

"  I  hope  so,  dear,''  said  Mrs.  Mortimer,  There 
"U'as  a  tear  in  her  eye  as  she  spoke,  and  she  glanced 
fearfully  at  the  half-open  door,  through  the  open- 
ing of  "which  she  saw  her  dear  son  languidly  resting 
against  a  mass  of  pillows,  while  Charlotte  and 
Vernon  were  bringing  him  tea  from  the  larger 
table  to  a  smaller  one  by  his  sofa.  ''  My  boy  is 
so  ill,  Beatrice." 

Lady  Digby  soothed  and  reassured  her  as  mucli 
as  she  was  able,  and  as  soon  as  possible  led  her 
again  into  the  cheerful  parlour,  where  they  found 
Louis  much  refreshed  by  his  tea. 

It  was  some  time  before  Louis  recovered  from 
the  effects  of  his  journey ;  for  many  days  he  seemed 
so  much  the  worse  for  the  change  from  Clifton, 
that  the  worst  fears  were  entertained  for  him; 
even  the  medical  man  holding  out  but  little  hopes 
of  his  recovery.  He  did  not  rise  till  the  middle 
of  the  day,  and  was  then  carried  into  the  sitting- 
room,  where  he  lay  quietly  on  the  sofa,  hardly 
changing  his  position,  tranquilly  watching  the 
movements  of  those  around  him,  and  occasionally 
reading  a  little.  Vernon's  care  and  sympathy  was 
almost  beautiful — active  and  lively  as  he  was,  he 
would  often  sit  an  hour  at  a  time  on  a  low  seat  at 
his  cousin's  sofa ;  as  quiet  as  the  teuderest  nurse. 


DASHwooD  rniouv.  105 

sometimes  bathing  his  head  with  eau  de  Cologne, 
and  at  otliers  vokintccring  to  read — an  offer  wliich 
Louis  often  gratefully  accepted ;  for  there  "svas 
something  in  the  gentle  sound  of  Vernon's  musical 
voice  and  perfect  intonation,  that  delighted  his 
fastidious  invalid  taste,  and  soothed  his  more  rest- 
less moments.  Among  other  books,  Ferrers's  gift 
was  one  often  chosen ;  and  one  day,  after  coming 
to  the  concluding  paragraph  a  second  time,  Vernon 
remarked, — 

"  It  was  a  master  mind  that  wrote  this,  Louis; 
I  don't  know  when  I  have  met  with  a  sermon  that 
has  delighted  me  so  much/' 

"  Tlien  you  are  not  tired  of  reading  it  so  often, 
dear  Vernon?'' 

"  By  no  means,  even  were  your  subjects  less 
fascinating.  It  does  a  poor  careless  sinner  like 
myself  good  to  be  forced  to  dwell  sometimes  on 
serious  topics,  Louis,  and  I  will  not  say  but  that 
your  little  innocent  comments  have  made  me 
think." 

"  Oh,  Vernon  !  I  make  you  think  ?"  exclaimed 
Louis,  raising  himself  from  the  pillow,  with  a 
slight  flush  of  pleasure  in  his  face.  "  You  are  so 
far  superior  to  me,  I  have  thought  so  very  often  of 
your  kindness  in  sitting  down  reading  to  me  hour 
after  hour  as  you  do." 

"  Come,  come,"  said  Vernon,  "  my  motlicr 
never  allows  me  to  read  an  hour  at  a  time." 

"  But  put  the  times  together,"  said  Louis ; 
''the  benefit  is  mine,  Vernon." 


106  DASHWOOD    l-RIORY. 

"Will  you  not  allow  tliat  I  may  have  some  in 
reading  those  magnificent  chapters  in  Isaiah  and 
Ezekiel  you  chose  yesterday^  to  say  nothing  of  the 
other  in  St,  Luke?"  asked  Vernon.  "And  I  tell 
you^  Louis,  why  your  remarks  do  make  me  think. 
They  are  not  cut  and  dried  as  though  you  had  been 
making  a  sermon  for  my  edification ;  they  come  I 
know  from  the  fulness  of  your  heart,  not  to  teach 
me :  you  speak  because  you  cannot  help  it.  I 
should  be  too  proud  to  be  taught,  perhaps ;  but  I 
must  be  arrested  sufficiently  to  wonder  where 
your  simple  wisdom  comes  from." 

Louis'  eyes  glistened,  and  his  heart  swelled  with 
wondering  gratitude  to  Him  who  maketh  any 
man's  words  of  power.  He  did  not  speak,  and 
Vernon  absently  stirred  the  fire,  and  then  thought- 
fully gazing  into  its  depths,  continued — 

"To  return  to  Watts,  Louis,  it  has  a  strange 
fascination  about  it.  It  makes  one  wish  to  be 
freed  from  the  trammels  of  our  bodies.  Wliat  an 
idea  to  have  the  wide  expanse  of  immeasurable 
thought  and  illimitable  space  spread  before  you — 
a  free  unfettered  being — an  enlarged  capacity  both 
of  comprehension  and  enjoyment,  and  all  the 
treasures  of  knowledge  and  science  within  the 
delighted  grasp,  and  with  all,  ceaseless  untiring 
activity,  and  all — wlij^  it  seems  like  the  infinity  of 
the  works  of  nature,  too  vast  for  thought — what 
a  heaven ! " 

Louis  listened  to  his  cousin  with  animation  in 
the  beginning  of  his  speech,  but  his  expression 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  107 

became  very  grave  as  he  concluded,  and  he  replied 
very  seriously, — 

"  And  yet,  dear  cousin,  I  almost,  nay  I  am  sure, 
we  do  not  think  alike  on  the  happiness  of  heaven." 

"As  how?"  asked  Vernon,  turning  quickly 
round  :  "  Did  you  not  say  that  the  idea  was  very 
delightful  of  being  constantly  employed,  and  of 
having  employment  suited  to  our  different  dis- 
positions and  tastes?  Did  you  not  say  your 
childish  idea  of  heaven  was  what  mine  was,  I 
remember;  a  large  room  made  of  clouds,  with 
angels  sitting  in  rows  playing  harps  for  ever  and 
ever?  and  I  remember,  when  a  child  of  five  years 
old,  checking  a  thought  which  I  fancied  was 
sinful,  that  I  should  be  very  tired  of  sitting 
playing  a  harp  for  ever ;  and  I  believe,  Louis,  Ave 
carry  to  manhood  more  of  our  childish  preposses- 
sions than  we  are  aware  of — crude,  undigested 
notions  on  many  subjects,  and  on  none  more  than 
on  religious  subjects.  Your  favourite,  ^^^att8,  has 
overleaped  the  limits  usually  placed  before  our 
imaginations,  and  lias  given  his  readers  something 
tangible  on  which  to  fix  their  ideas;  something  to 
wish  for;  something  to  aspire  to  in  the  world 
to  come.  Wherein  should  wc  differ?  We  arc 
agreed  in  liking  the  same  ideas,  and  I  confess 
that  the  name  of  the  old  Calvinist  prejudiced  me 
against  him  before  I  commenced." 

"  I  must  say,"  replied  Louis,  "  that  I  cannot 
sec  much  difference  in  your  aspirations  after 
heaven  and  tliose  of  the  Mahometans,  ^'ernon." 


108  DASKWOOD    PRIORY. 

Vernon  opened  his  mouth  and  eyes.  "  Make 
that  good,  Louis,  and  perhaps  you  may  gain  a 
convert." 

"  You  would  laugh  at  the  idea  of  a  heaven  of 
liouries,  wine-cups,  and  pleasure-gardens,  Vernon," 
answered  Louis ;  "  your  intellectual  and  more 
refined  nature  would  make  you  despise  such 
indvicemeuts,  if  you  could  believe  them ;  but  do 
you  not  make  a  heaven  of  those  things  in  which 
you  do  delight?  Do  you  not,  dear  Vernon,  make  a 
god  of  intellectual  enjoyment  ?  and  is  it  not 
because  you  feel  that  such  a  heaven  as  Watts 
describes  would  be  the  very  essence  of  ethereal 
lofty  intelligence,  that  you  esteem  it  as  something 
you  are  capable  of  loving  and  understanding':' 
One  thing  you  said  made  me  think  this :  you 
speak  of  the  Avorks  of  Nature ;  you  speak  of 
knowledge  and  comprehension;  of  unfettered 
being ;  but  you  never  spoke  of  Him, — Nature's 
God, — of  Him  whom  it  is  His  people's  delight  to 
serve,  whose  glory  is  the  theme  and  object  of  all 
His  servants'  works  and  songs.  His  servants  shall 
serve  Him,  and  everything  there  is  subservient  to 
His  glory." 

"  Why  you  quibble,  Louis,"  said  Vernon, 
colouring ;  "  of  course,  I  acknowledge  all  this  Avhen 
I  agree  to  your  author's  sentiments." 

"  No  you  do  not,"  said  Louis,  very  decidedly. 

The  cousins'  eyes  met  fully;  Vernon  looked 
confused,  and  for  a  moment  rather  angry.  It  was 
but  for  a  moment ;  for  he  said  presently  : — 


DASinVOOI)    I'KIOKV.  109 

"  Well  then,  philosopher,  what  diflferent  aspect 
does  heaven  wear  to  you  ?" 

"  Were  I  in  lieaven  without  my  God, 
'Tvvould  be  no  joy  to  me," 

replied  Louis,  solemnly.  "  ]My  heaven  is  the 
presence  of  God,  the  consequent  freedom  from 
sin ;  the  joy  of  being  constantly  with  my  beloved 
Saviour ;  no  longer  seeing  through  a  glass  darkly, 
but  face  to  face.  Then  it  is  a  joy  to  think  of 
being  always  actively  employed  in  Ilis  service, 
to  be  always  associated  with  those  who  esteem 
nothing  of  any  moment  but  the  glory  of  God; 
and  oh  !  how  delightful  to  meet  our  dear  friends, 
and  to  talk  with  them  of  all  the  love  that  brought 
us  safely  there.^^ 

"  We  have  different  minds,"  said  Vernon, 
midccidcdly. 

Louis  looked  at  his  cousin  anxiously  and  sadly. 
^'erno^  presently  asked, — 

"  Do  you  ever  feel  afraid  of  dying?" 

"  I  may  well  be  asked  that  question  now,  dear 
A  crnou,"  he  answered  calmly.  "  I  am  not  now 
afraid  of  death ;  and  I  do  not  think  since  I  was  a 
child  I  have  feared  that  Christ  would  receive  me 
for  Ilis  own  sake;  but  I  have  been  very  sorrowful 
at  the  idea  of  leaving  all  and  dying  so  young.  It 
is  a  beautiful  world,  and  there  arc  many  things 
you  know,  Vernon,  many  hopes  of  usefulness; 
and  then  death  looks  dark  souu;times  wlicn  our 
bodily  weakness  puts  a  cloud  between  us  and 
Christ.     I  do  not  know   wliy  a  Christian  should 


110  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

slirink  from  that  which  will  place  him  in  his 
Saviour's  bosom,  but  it  was  so — I  was  very 
unbelieving  and  sorrowful ;  but  that  is  gone  now, 
quite  gone,  I  think  I  am  willing,  and  I  trust 
desirous,  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ ;  and  my 
hope  is  as  fair  and  unclouded  as  the  blue  summei 
sky.  Thank  God  !  He  has  made  me  feel  His  will 
is  best." 

Vernon's  countenance  showed  much  emotion, 
and  he  did  not  trust  himself  to  look  at  Louis  as 
he  replied,  "  But  things  are  not  so  bad  as  that, 
Louis ;  I  did  not  mean  that.'' 

Louis  smiled  and  shook  his  head. 

"Nay,  but  you  must  not  give  way  to  such 
gloomy  thoughts." 

"  They  are  not  gloomy,  Vernon :  they  are  the 
stay  and  joy  of  my  heart." 

Vernon  did  not  speak,  and  a  few  minutes  after 
their  tete-a-tete  was  disturbed  by  the  entrance  of 
the  rest  of  the  party  from  their  walk. 


DASHWOOD    PKIORY.  Ill 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

"  As  we  have  many  members  in  one  body,  and  all  members 
have  not  the  same  office  ;  so  we,  being  many,  are  one  body  in 
Christ,  and  everyone  members  one  of  another." — Horn.  xii.  4,  5. 

Verxon's  cough  had  entirely  disappeared,  and  his 
appetite  being  recovered,  Dr.  L.  pronounced  him 
sufficiently  avcU  to  return  to  Cambridge.  A  few 
days  after  the  conversation  detailed  in  the  previous 
chapter,  Reginald  arrived,  and  this,  together  with 
the  knowledge  of  the  pleasure  his  company  was 
to  Louis,  induced  Vcrnou  to  prolong  his  stay  at 
Torquay  until  the  end  of  the  vacation.  Sir  Francis 
was,  however,  quite  tired  out,  and  Mr.  ^Mortimer 
found  it  necessary  to  return  to  Dashwood;  and  as 
no  immediate  danger  appeared  to  threaten  Louis, 
he  set  off  with  Sir  Francis.  Vernon  and  Reginald 
were,  as  usual,  constant  companions  when  Louis 
was  to  be  alone,  and  Reginald  was  so  incautious 
that  he  had  often  to  be  dismissed  the  sick-room. 
They  took  long  walks  and  rides,  explored  every 
available  nook,  and  piloted  Lady  Digby  and 
Charlotte  occasionally  to  some  noted  locality. 
When  the  weather  was  fine,  Louis  went  out  in  a 
Bath  chair,  and  as  he  grew  a  little  stronger,  liis 
rides  were  extended  to  a  length  that  allowed  ol 
his  accompanying  the  rest  of  the  party  in  their 


132  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

more  moderate  walkS;,  one  or  the  other  taking 
alternately  the  station  by  his  chair. 

"  I  declare  it  is.enough  to  kill  an  invalid^  to  meet 
the  number  of  wan,  broken-down  looking  persons 
we  see  in  the  chairs  here,"  exclaimed  Reginald 
one  day  to  his  mother,  as  they  strolled  along 
together  some  distance  behind  Louis'  chair.  "  I 
don't  think  it  affects  Louis  ;  he  is  really  less  low- 
spirited  than  usual." 

■^^Dr.  L.  says  his  happy  state  of  mind  is  the 
best  chance  for  him,"  said  Mrs.  Mortimer,  "  and  I 
almost  hope  he  is  a  little  better." 

"  Dr.  L.  seems  fond  of  him,"  said  Reginald. 
"  He  is  an  excellent  Christian." 

"  He  is,"  replied  Mrs.  INIortimer.  '^  I  have 
often  thought,  Reginald,  that  it  is  a  great  mis- 
take to  imagine  that  every  man  who  desires  to 
Avork  the  work  of  God  must  belong  to  the  ministry 
of  the  Church.  I  really  think  a  medical  man  is 
often  able  to  do  more  for  the  souls  of  others  than 
a  clergyman.  -  He  has  often  access  where  a  cler- 
gyman cannot  enter,  and  his  word  is  revered  so 
much  in  times  of  sickness.  Then,  again,  you 
remember  Captain  Stoke  ?  His  aunt  once  said 
to  me,  '  He  is  so  pious,  it  is  a  pity  he  did  not  go 
into  the  Church,  he  ought  to  have  been  a  clergy- 
man. He  takes  such  pains  with  the  soldiers  of 
his  regiment;  he  has  taught  them  a  number  of 
innocent  songs  and  many  hymns,  which  they  sing 
among  themselves;  and  he  visits  their  families, 
assembles  thcni  for  prayer,  and  looks  after  the  ob- 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  113 

servance  of  the  Sabljath  amoiii^  tliem/  This  was 
while  he  was  in  India.  Could  he  have  done  so 
much  had  he  been  a  clergyman  ?  I  thought  it 
needed  no  comment — that  man's  place  was  plainly 
in  the  army,  and  not  in  the  ministry  of  the 
Church.  But  who  is  that  stopping  Louis'  chair 
now  ? "  she  added,  looking  anxiously  forward. 
"That  must  not  be.  Hurry  on,  Reginald,  and 
tell  them  they  must  move  forward." 

Reginald  ran  on  as  desired,  and  very  soon 
reached  the  chair.  A  group  was  formed  around 
it,  of  which  the  cynosure  was  a  stranger,  whose 
form  seemed  very  familiar  to  Reginald  from  a 
distance,  and  on  reaching  him,  was  immediately 
recognised  as  that  appertaining  to  Hamilton. 
The  meeting  was  very  pleasant  for  all  parties ; 
and  as  it  turned  out  that  Hamilton  had  paid  a 
visit  to  Torquay  expressly  to  see  Louis,  he  was 
invited  by  !Mrs.  jNIortimer  to  take  np  his  abode 
in  their  cottage  for  a  few  days.  His  arrival  was 
a  great  delight  to  Louis,  and  his  manner  and 
expressions  were  so  quiet,  and  he  was  so  amenable 
to  every  hint  respecting  the  invalid,  that  INIrs. 
^Mortimer  was  glad  to  have  him  in  the  liouse. 
There  were  more  Avalks  than  ever  now,  for 
Hamilton's  powers  of  walking  were  only  equalled 
by  Reginald's.  Vernon  returned  from  one  or 
two  excursions  so  "  dead  beat,"-  -to  use  Regi- 
nald's expression,  —  that  both  his  mother  and 
aunt  strongly  dissuaded  him  froui  undertaking 
any  more. 

I 


114  DASHWOOD   PRtonr. 

"  Take  Charlotte  with  you  this  afternoon,"  said 
Lady  Digby^,  ''  and  then  you  can  return  when  you 
feel  tired.     Remember,  you  must  not  tire  her/' 

"  Oh,  mamma  ! "  exclaimed  Charlotte,  "  he  is 
30  disgusted.  What  immense  bores  sisters  are  ! — 
are  they  not,  Yernon  ?  " 

"  To  be  sure ,  and  you  more  than  all,"  an- 
swered Vernon,  kissing  her.  "  But,  come,  I  won't 
object  to  the  incumbrance  this  afternoon,  if 
Reginald  and  Hamilton  don't,  and  I  fully  appre- 
ciate mamma's  affection  for  her  son  in  permitting 
you  to  go  under  our  charge." 

Of  course,  the  two  gentlemen  were  only  too 
proud  of  Charlotte's  company ;  and  they  set  off 
with  many  injunctions  not  to  be  out  late. 

"  I  think  a  fog  is  coming  on,"  said  Mrs. 
Mortimer. 

"  Remember,  dear,  the  evenings  close  in  soon," 
said  Lady  Digby,  "  and  Dr.  L.  says  a  great  deal 
about  night  air.  You  must  not  get  a  cough 
again ;  your  father  will  think  I  have  been  very 
careless." 

"  Remember,  you  are  not  too  strong  yet,"  said 
Dr.  L.,  who  entered  the  garden  as  Vernon  left 
it;  'Hhree  quarters  of  an  hour  is  enough;  the 
evening  will  be  foggy." 

"  Oh,  ay  !  I  remember.  Hadn't  you  better 
give  me  a  large  blanket,  mamma?"  he  called  out. 
"  "What  Molly  Coddles  our  fond  mothers  and  these 
croaking  old  doctors  make  of  one,  don't  they, 
Hamilton  ?" 


DASIIWOOD    PRIORY.  115 

Hamilton  either  did  uot  hear,  or  did  not  feel 
inclined  to  notice  the  appeal,  and  they  went 
merrily  on.  Their  walk  lay  along  the  beach,  and 
they  passed  point  after  point,  forgetting  in  their 
amusing  talk  how  far  they  had  already  come, 
when  Charlotte  reminded  her  brother  of  the 
time. 

"  You  are  right,^'  said  Reginald,  suddeidy  look- 
ing round.  "  It's  getting  dark  ;  come,  Vernon, 
we'll  all  go  back  together." 

"  I  am  not  a  bit  tired.  I  want  to  show  Lottie 
the  spring  we  found  the  other  day,  as  we  arc  so 
far.  Why,  what  walkers  we've  been !  I  had  no 
idea  we  had  come  so  far." 

"  Nor  any  idea  how  late  it  is,"  said  Hamilton. 
"  Every  ten  minutes  will  be  of  consequence  now, 
Vernon.  It  will  be  dai-k  in  another  hour,  and  we 
have  been  one  coming  here." 

"  Oh,  Vernon !  mamma  will  be  so  anxious," 
said  Ciiarlotte.     "  Let  us  come  back." 

"  Anxious,"  said  Vernon.  "  Mamma's  obliged 
to  be  careful,  because  the  doctor  is ;  but  she  is 
very  much  on  my  side,  after  all.  I  am  a  very 
determined  person.  I  must  go  on  to  the  spring 
now.  We  can  walk  a  little  faster  and  make  up 
for  the  loss  of  time." 

"  You  must  go  by  yourself,  then,"  said  Reginald, 
stoutly.     "We  will  not;  eh,  Hamilton?" 

"  Certainly  not." 

N'ernon  endeavoured  to  drag  Charlotte  along, 
and  then  made  a  feint  of  setting  oil"  by  himself;  but 
I  2 


116  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

finding  that  no  one  stirred,  lie  laughingly  ac- 
quiesced in  their  arrangement. 

They  had  not  gone  very  far  before  Hamilton, 
who  had  been  very  silent  for  some  minutes,  ex- 
claimed, "  The  fog  is  coming  down  rapidly.  In 
another  ten  minutes  we  shall  not  be  able  to  see 
our  way  an  inch.  Quick;  the  tide's  coming  up 
very  fast.  There's  no  time  to  lose.  jNIiss  Digby, 
we  have  all  been  very  careless." 

"  Never  fear,'^  replied  Vernon ;  "  I  always  get 
out  of  my  scrapes  comfortably,  and  we  are  alto- 
gether." 

They  hurried  on,  scared)^  speaking.  In  less 
than  a  quarter  of  an  hour  the  fog,  like  a  dark 
curtain,  spread  over  the  sea  and  land,  completely 
hiding  their  way  from  the  pedestrians,  and  for 
some  little  while  they  cautiously  proceeded,  hardly 
daring  to  move  a  step. 

"  Let  us  keep  close  by  the  rock,"  said  Hamilton. 
''  Where  is  Miss  Digby  ?" 

The  curiously  muffled  sound  of  Hamilton's 
voice  sounded  unpleasantly  on  their  ears.  He 
was  a  little  in  advance,  and  on  Charlotte's  reply, 
stepped  back,  and  putting  her  hand  in  his  arm, 
carefully  Avalked  in  the  direction  of  the  cliffs  till 
he  tou.ched  them,  his  voice  guiding  the  others  to 
follow  him.  They  now  proceeded  as  quickly  as 
the  obscurity  would  allow,  feeling  their  wfiy  till 
they  reached  one  of  the  points  they  had  passed 
previously,  and  were  about  to  double  it,  when 
Reginald    cried    out,    "  Here   is   water.      Good 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  117 

heavens,  Hamilton,  avc  are  lost ;  the  tide 's  up 
here.'' 

There  was  a  pause.  Charlotte's  hand  trembled 
on  Hamilton's  arm.  "  Can  you  see  the  light- 
house?" she  asked.  "Arc  we  near  the  light- 
house ?  " 

"We  must  be  very  near  to  see  it,  iu  this  fog,'"' 
replied  Reginald. 

"  We  must  try  and  mount  the  clifty  said 
Vernon.  "  Or  stay,  Hamilton ;  take  care  of 
Charlotte  one  moment,  don't  stir  till  I  come 
back." 

"Where  arc  you  going?" 

"  To  find  our  best  way,"  replied  Vernon. 

It  was  useless  to  attempt  to  stay  him :  the  ut- 
most he  would  do  was  to  cojisult  a  moment  or  two, 
and  to  allow  Reginald  to  share  his  ditficulties ; 
and  it  was  agreed  that  Hamilton  should  remain 
with  Charlotte,  while  Vernon  attempted  to  clam- 
ber round  the  point  to  ascertain  whether  the 
water  had  risen  to  the  inner  curve  of  the  next 
bay,  and  Reginald  was  to  climb  the  clilT,  and  find 
out  the  best  footing  above.  Charlotte  did  not 
speak  a  word;  but  words  could  not  express  tlic 
prayerful  thoughts  that  filled  both  her  and 
Ilamiltou's  mind  as  they  stood  alone  for  the  next 
few  moments.  It  was  not  long  before  the  welcome 
sound  of  Vernon's  voice,  and  then  Reginald's, 
hailed  them  from  a  little  distance  above. 

"Cheer  up.  It's  a  little  bit  of  an  easy  ascent, 
and  the  water  is  not  round  here.     I  am  coming 


118  DASH  WOOD    PRIORY. 

down  to  lead  you.  There's  a  house  close  at  hand, 
and  a  light  to  cheer  you.^' 

Another  minute,  and  both  the  pioneers  were 
within  arm's  length  of  Charlotte  and  Hamilton, 
and  after  a  few  seconds'  confabulation,  Charlotte 
was  cautiously  assisted  up  the  ascent  by  Hamilton 
and  her  brother.  She  trembled  so  violently,  that 
when  they  had  gone  a  few  yards,  Vernon  caught 
her  in  his  arms,  and  hurried  up  the  remainder  of 
the  way  he  had  previously  explored  to  the  little 
house,  and  set  her  down  breathless  at  the  door. 
The  way  proved  very  easy,  and  they  were  all  soon 
in  the  kitchen  of  the  descried  refuge,  and  here,  to 
their  great  alarm,  Charlotte,  when  the  fear  was 
over,  had  a  fit  of  hysterics.  It  was  some  little 
while  before  she  was  sufficiently  recovered  to  be 
taken  home;  but  before  the  light  covered  cart, 
which  they  were  happy  enough  to  procure  here, 
was  ready,  Reginald  hurried  home  with  a  boy 
and  lantern,  to  relieve  his  aunt's  and  mother's 
minds. 

At  length  the  whole  party  were  fairly  on  their 
way,  the  driver  holding  the  horse's  head  with  one, 
and  a  lantern  with  the  other  hand.  Vernon, 
rather  exhausted  with  his  exertions,  sat  back  in  a 
corner,  and  close  by  him  was  Charlotte  with  her 
head  leaning  on  his  shoulder,  while  his  arm  sup- 
ported her.  Hamilton  was  in  the  opposite  corner, 
profoundly  silent. 

As  the  cart  at  length  drew  up  in  front  of  the 
cottage,  and  nearly  all  the  inmates  of  the  house 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  119 

rushed  out  with  candle  and  lamp  to  rejoice  over 
them,  Charlotte  raised  herself  with  a  deep  sigh, 
and  Hamilton,  who  had  already  dismounted, 
assisted  her  carefully  down  to  her  mother.  Ver- 
non followed  with  rather  less  alacrity  than  usual, 
and  as  he  emerged  from  his  sheltered  corner,  and 
drew  a  deep  breath  of  the  thick  heavy  air,  he 
was  painfully  sensible  of  a  sharp  sensation  in  his 
chest,  as  if  a  knife  had  been  drawn  across.  It 
was  but  momentary,  and  the  next  minute  he  was 
cheering  his  mother  with  his  usual  animation,  and 
drawing  a  vivid  analogy  between  their  situation 
and  that  of  Sir  Arthur  and  Miss  Wardour,  in  the 
"Antiquary." 

But  neither  his  mother  nor  aunt  could  look 
lightly  on  it.  They  only  spoke  of  the  mercy  of 
their  escape  :  they  did  not  upbraid  their  thought- 
lessness ;  but  Vernon  felt  this  enough  when  he 
looked  on  his  mother's  tearful  white  face,  and 
Charlotte's  faint  languid  state. 

"  You  had  better  take  something  to-night,  my 
dear  Vernon,"  said  his  mother.     "I  think  you 

had  better  see  Dr.  L. ;  you  look  very  white  and 

»;ircd." 

"  Dr.  L.  would  tell  me  to  go  to  bed,  and  I  will 

prescribe  that  for  myself." 

"  lUit  he  might  give  you  some  medicine  to  pre- 

v(  lit  cold,  dear." 

•And  prevent  ray  setting  off  to-morrow,  too, 

cUaiiist  mater.     Not  this  time,  thank  you;  lam 

not  ill." 


120  DASHWOOD    PlllORY. 

"  Let  me  give  you  a  little  sal  volatile  and  pare- 
goric, with  liot  water,  at  least." 

Vernon  shrugged  his  shoulders,  took  the  mix- 
ture in  silence  to  his  room,  and  threw  it  away 
without  tasting  it. 

The  following  day  he  returned  to  Cambridge, 
and  his  mother  bade  him  good-bye,  thankful 
that  none  of  the  party  was  the  worse  for  the 
dangerous  adventure. 


--s>«;S>ti'~<i:^^^s  >s~ 


DASH  WOOD    PRIORY.  121 


CHAPTEll  IX. 

"  He  shall  call  upon  me,  and  I  will  answer  Him  :  I  will  bo 
with  him  in  trouble  ;  I  will  deliver  him  and  honour  him.  With 
long  life  will  I  satisfy  him,  and  show  him  my  salvation." — 
Pa.  xci.  15,  16, 

"  The  world  passeth  away,  and  the  lust  thereof ;  but  he  that 
doeth  the  will  of  God  abideth  for  ever." — 1  John  ii.  17. 

Louis  remained  at  Torquay  some  mouths,  and 
alter  Yeraon's  departure  gradually  improved  in 
health,  contrary  to  the  expectation  of  all  inter- 
ested in  him ;  and  in  April,  as  a  more  bracing 
climate  was  recommended  for  him,  his  mother 
took  liim  to  Tenby,  where  his  recovery  was  so 
rapid  that  in  a  few  weeks  he  was  allowed  to  return 
liome  or  to  school,  whenever  he  pleased.  School 
was  not  to  be  thought  of  again,  and  accordingly, 
to  his  great  delight,  he  set  out  with  his  mother 
for  Norfolk,  and  arrived  in  Dashwood  one  fine 
May  morning. 

"Thou  scutcst  a  gracious  rain  upon  Thine  in- 
heritance, and  refresliedst  it  when  it  was  weary;" 
so  it  is,  the  former  and  the  latter  rain  come  (>(|ualiy 
from  Ilim  who  has  pledged  Himself  that  He  will 
never  foi*sakc  His  pcoi)le.  Sometimes  the  gracious 
rain  is  ushered  in  by  black  threatening  cluuds> 
yet  the  sun  is  still  behind  them,  and  how  dark 


122  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

soever  they  may  appear,  by-and-by  they  shall 
pass  away;,  and  the  warm  rays  shall  descend  agam 
to  cheer  the  softened  earth.  He  shall  descend 
like  the  tender  rain.  "On  you  that  fear  My 
name  shall  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  arise  with 
healing  in  His  wings :"  so  Louis  thought,  as  the 
carriage  which  had  brought  them  from  Norwich 
drew  near  to  his  native  place.  Two  or  three  days  of 
rain  had  been  succeeded  by  a  brilliant  sunshine, 
and  his  chastened  and  spiritual  mind  traced  the 
analogy  to  his  own  case.  He  remembered  how 
dark  the  cloud  had  been  to  him,  how  he  had  said 
to  himself,  "  Where  is  God  my  Maker,  who  giveth 
songs  in  the  night?"  But  He  was  still  shining 
behind  the  cloud:  His  inheritance  was  weary; 
there  needed  a  closer  drawing  to  Himself:  the 
clouds  of  sickness  and  fear  interposed,  but  with 
them  came  the  gentle  rain,  and  now  the  chastened 
heart  could  bear  the  sun  of  prosperity  which 
poured  on  it.  How  his  heart  swelled  :  "  My  God, 
my  heart  is  fixed ;  I  will  sing  and  give  praise ! 
Oh,  that  the  life  Thou  hast  spared  may  be  all 
Thine  own  !  Take  me,  O  Lord,  for  I  am  not  able 
to  give  myself  to  Thee :  keep  me  as  the  apple  oi 
Thine  eye;  hide  me  under  the  shadow  of  Thy 
wing.^' 

My  readers  have  long  permitted  me,  as  an  old 
friend,  to  appear  from  time  to  time  from  behind 
the  prompter's  curtain  and  speak  a  word  in  my 
own  person.  Suffer  me  now  one  word.  How 
many  among  you  feel  that  God  alo7ie  has  raised 


UASllWdOU    PRIORY.  123 

you  from  sickness, — that  had  He  left  you,  all 
medical  aid  had  beeu  iu  vain  ?  How  many  have 
lifted  up  the  heart  in  true  gratitude  to  Him, 
saying,  "  O  Lord,  I  will  praise  Thee  !  The 
living,  the  living  shall  praise  Thee  !  as  I  do  this 
day."  The  Almighty  God  has  declared,  ''  Whoso 
oftcreth  Me  praise  honoureth  Me.-"^  "  With  sup- 
plication and  THANKSGIVING  our  requests  are  to 
be  made  known  to  God."  But  is  it  not  too  often 
the  case,  that  He  is  hardly  remembered  at  all? 
Human  aid,  medical  advice  is  sought,  Avhile  He 
who  supplies  that,  is  forgotten  times  without 
number.  Will  ye  not  fear  Him  ?  King  Asa, 
when  diseased  in  his  feet,  sought  to  the  physicians, 
and  not  to  the  Lord,  and  what  was  the  sequel  ? 
He  died. 

Give  unto  the  Lord  the  glory  due  to  His  name. 

Louis'  father  and  mother  were  both  in  the  car- 
riage with  him,  but  neither  spoke,  for  they  under- 
stood his  feelings ;  their  own  were  little  different. 
As  the  carriage  became  visible  at  the  top  of  the 
little  elevation  they  were  ascending,  the  church- 
bells  struck  up,  and  ere  long  a  long  troop  of  the 
villagers  met  the  carriage,  and  threw  flowers  into 
it,  welcoming  Louis  home  with  shouts  and  icvc- 
rences.  Louis  was  so  t.iken  by  surprise,  that  he 
hardly  knew  wliat  to  say  or  do  :  he  took  olf  his  hat 
and  stood  up  in  the  carriage,  to  acknowledge  the 
kind  salutations,  till  the  carriage  catered  the 
park.  We  will  not  enter  into  the  particulars  of 
the  happy  homc-nieetiug.     It  was  remembered  at 


124  DASH  WOOD    PRTOKY. 

niglit  as  sucli  an  event  should  be  considered  in 
every  Christian  family.  Louis  missed  one  dear 
face  :  Reginald  was  now  at  Cambridge,  and  as  the 
long  vacation  was  yet  some  time  oflp^  he  could  not 
return  to  welcome  him.  Two  or  three  months 
before,  Vernon  had  reached  the  summit  of  his 
collegiate  desires,  being  proclaimed  senior  wrangler, 
first  gold  medallist^  and  first  Smith's  prizeman.^ 
The  great  event  now  talked  of  was  Vernon's  next 
birthday,  when  he  would  be  of  age :  Sir  Francis 
intended  it  should  be  kept  with  all  honours  due, 
in  consideration  of  his  heirship,  and  the  creditable 
manner  in  which  he  had  passed  his  college  career. 
The  birthday  Avas  in  September,  and  all  the 
Mortimers,  Meredith,  and  the  Vernons,  beside 
numberless  other  visitors,  were  invited  to  share  in 
the  festivities,  which  were  to  last  beyond  the 
actual  day.  Mary  and  little  Fred  were  full  of 
the  expected  pleasure,  and  eagerly  anticipated  the 
delight  of  being  Avith  all  their  little  cousms  at  so 
busy  and  joyful  a  period. 

A  fcAv  days  after  Louis'  return  home,  his  father 
called  him  one  morning  into  his  study,  and  after 
a  little  silence  he  began, — 

"  Louis,  my  boy,  I  feel  I  owe  a  great  debt  of 
gratitude  to  Him  who  has  restored  you  to  me  in 
health  and  strength  again.  We  feel  it  together ; 
my  multiplied  mercies,  who  can  count  them  ? " 
He  added,  reverentially,    after  a  pause,  "What 

*  To  the  sceptical  it  may  be  mentioned,  that  there  are  two 
such  instances  on  record.     Might  not  this  have  been  one? 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  125 

shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  His  benefits  ? 
1  may,  indeed,  say,  avc  can  render  nothing  bnt 
the  offering  of  a  thankful  heart,  and  that  He 
must  give.  But,  my  hoy,  I  want  to  bestow  some 
money  in  some  charitable  purpose,  as  a  thank- 
offering  for  this  special  mercy  ;  and  as  you  are  so 
nearly  connected  in  this,  I  should  like  to  give  you 
the  choice  of  the  object  ;  therefore  choose,  my 
dear  Louis.^' 

Louis  was  at  first  so  overcome  with  pleasure, 
that  he  could  not  find  words  to  thank  his  father. 
At  last  he  replied,  in  a  faltering  tone, — 

"  I  have  one  great  wish,  father,  as  you  are  so 
kind  to  rac,  if  you  think  it  charity.  I  do ;  but 
perhaps  it  will  ])e  more  than  you  intend  to 
give.'' 

"  AVhat  is  it  ?  Speak  out,  and  do  not  be  afraid 
of  expense.     I  think  I  can  guess." 

"  Poor  Ferrers,  father.  He  has  talent ;  he  has 
been  brought  up  as  a  gentleman.'"' 

Mr.  ^lortimer  smiled. 

"  What  is  to  be  done  with  him  ?  " 

"  Can  you  put  him  to  college,  papa  ?  " 

"  And  what  does  he  purpose  doing  then  ?"  asked 
Mr.  ^Mortimer.  "  I  do  not  object  to  it,  my  dear 
son  ;  but  we  must  carefully  consider  the  utility 
of  giving  him  this  privilege ;  and  this  sum  of 
money  must  not  be  idly  thrown  away.  Wliat  I 
want  you  to  feci  is  that  we  should  be  even  more 
careful  stewards  of  that  which  we  set  apart  for 
the  service  of  God   than  of  that  whieii  wc  call 


126  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

our  own.  What  shall  we  assist  your  friend  in 
doing  ?  " 

"  Why,  father,  I  hardly  know ;  he  wants  an 
university  education.  He  has  talents,  and  I 
think  would  do  well, — perhaps  fit  himself  for  a 
tutor.  You  know  he  might  take  pupils,  and 
would  succeed  much  better  if  he  had  been  at 
Oxford  or  Cambridge.^' 

"  Well,  I  will  write  and  make  inquiries  about 
him.  Do  you  think  Dr.  Wilkinson  would  take 
the  trouble  to  find  out  his  views  for  me  ?  " 

"  I  am  sure  he  will,  father,"  said  Louis,  joy- 
fully. 

In  a  few  days  Mr.  Mortimer  had  instructed  his 
lawyer  to  write  to  Dr.  Wilkinson  and  obtain 
all  necessary  particulars  respecting  Ferrers  :  Mr. 
Mortimer's  name  was  not  to  be  mentioned ;  and 
in  little  more  than  a  week  a  full  and  circum- 
stantial account  through  him  from  Dr.  Wilkin- 
son arrived,  which  satisfied  Mr.  Mortimer  suflfi- 
ciently  for  him  to  summon  Louis  to  another 
cabinet  council.  It  was  agreed  that  it  would 
neither  be  wisdom  nor  kindness  to  make  too 
large  an  allowance ;  consequently,  500Z.  was  placed 

in   Mr.  T 's  hands,  and   he   was  instructed 

to  allow  Ferrers  120/.  per  annum,  the  remainder 
to  be  given  to  him  on  leaving  college,  or  to  be 
spent  in  necessary  books.  The  college  was  also 
chosen   for  him ;    and  when   all   was   arranged, 

Mr.  T wrote  to  offer  this  to  Ferrers,  who, 

we   need   harctly   say,    accepted    it  joyfully   and 


DASinVOOD    PRIORY.  127 

gratefully;  and  easily  persuading  his  master  to 
give  up  his  iudcutui'es,  was  placed  by  the  same 
anonymous  friend  Avith  Dr.  "Wilkinson  till  the 
Michaelmas  term.  I  need  not  say  how  happy 
our  hero  was  ;  he  could  hardly  refrain  from 
writinj^  to  congratulate  Ferrers  before  receiving 
formal  notification  of  it  from  him,  and  then  had 
to  weigh  his  words  well  in  his  answer,  to  prevent 
the  secret  from  appearing  in  the  joy  of  his  heart. 

Louis'  own  studies  were  now  very  easy.  Mr. 
Mortimer  was  not  ambitious  for  any  of  his  chil- 
dren, and  only  desired  that  Louis  should  be  suffi- 
ciently prepared  for  the  ministry  of  the  Chm*ch 
for  which  he  was  designed.  He  and  Neville,  who 
was  intended  for  the  same  sacred  office,  studied 
together ;  but  Neville  was  far  more  studious  than 
Louis,  and,  though  educated  at  home,  was  quite 
his  equal. 

All  the  Mortimers  and  Digbys  paid  a  visit 
to  Cambridge  to  witness  the  ceremony  of  the 
bestowal  of  Vernon's  gold  medal.  It  was  a  grand 
scene;  and  as  the  slight  delicate-looking  young 
man  passed  in  review  before  the  crowded  house, 
every  mouth  was  full  of  his  praises ;  and  many 
comments  among  the  ladies  were  passed  on  his 
interesting  appearance  ;  while  others,  nearer  to 
him,  who  could  notice  with  a  critical  eye  the 
hectic  spot  and  fire  of  his  lustrous  grey  eyes,  said 
too  truly  he  was  Avorn  out.  His  strength  was 
imequal  to  the  ordeal  imposed  on  his  excitable 
frame.     He  did  not  know  it  himself.     When  the 


128  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

shouts  seemed  to  pull  down  the  immense  senate- 
house,  how  proudly  his  heart  beat.  Bright 
visions  of  future  fame  and  greatness  rose  before 
him,  and  all  were  again  absorbed  in  the  present 
delight  of  that  proud  feeling  of  being  for  that 
year  at  the  head  of  the  youth  of  Great  Britain ; 
and  yet,  how  little  was  his  fame  known  beyond 
the  walls  of  Cambridge  ! 

He  left  the  house,  and  hastening  to  the  inn  where 
his  mother  was,  threw  himself  into  her  arms. 

"  Mother,  dear  mother  !  the  proudest  thought 
I  had  Avas,  that  you  were  the  happiest  mother 
there ;  and  the  happiest  I  had  was,  that  /  had 
made  you  so." 

Lady  Digby  kissed  his  wide  forehead  amid  her 
tears. 

"  God  bless  you,  my  boy  !  —  God  bless  you ! 
and  make  you  a  blessing  to  your  parents  and 
country." 

"  Father  !  "  he  said,  as  he  met  his  father's  open 
hand  and  glistening  eyes. 

Nothing  more  was  said  between  father  and 
son ;  but  they  understood  cacli  other. 

Presently  Vernon  tore  off  his  cap  and  gown, 
and  flung  them  to  the  other  end  of  the  room. 

'^  Now,  mother,  let  me  sit  on  this  stool,  and 
lean  my  head  on  your  knee,  as  I  used  when  I  was 
a  little  boy." 

He  suited  the  action  to  the  word,  and  remained 
long  in  silence,  with  his  mother's  hand  resting 
•on  his  beautiful  head,  only  removed  from  apparent 


n.vsinvooD  prioky.  12*.) 

sleep  by  the  rapid  twinkle  of  liis  eye  from  uiidcr- 
iieatli  the  nearly  closed  eyelid.  It  was  enoiii;li 
for  Sir  Francis  to  sit  and  look  at  him ;  he 
had  not  even  power  to  commend  liis  example  to 
Frank,  even  supposing  Frank  had  been  in  the 
way ;  but  that  gentleman,  being  rather  afraid  of 
a  lecture  on  account  of  considerable  and  oft- 
repcatcd  delinquencies,  had  taken  himself  out  of 
the  way  with  some  of  his  chosen  associates. 

It  is  surprising  how  little  some  people  under- 
stand the  symptoms  of  ill-health.  Vernon  was 
lively,  and  had  a  brilliant  colour ;  and  at  times, 
when  pale  and  delicate,  it  was  simply  attributed 
to  over- fatigue ;  and,  after  spending  a  week  or 
two  at  home,  a  cruise  on  the  ^Mediterranean  was 
again  resorted  to,  to  ^et  him  up  and  give  him 
tone  ;  but  he  was  past  that. 


130  DASHWOOD    PRIOKY, 


CHAPTER  X. 

"Ah,  Jaines, 
But  he  was  sadly  changed,  when  he  came  down 
To  keep  his  birth-day. 

It  struck  a  damp 
On  all  our  merriment." 

Soutliey's  Eclogues. 

September  was  fast  approacliing,  and  great  were 
the  preparations  at  Castle  DIgby  for  the  comiug  of 
age  of  the  heir.  Vernon  wrote  home  frequently, 
and  when  he  considered  it  necessary  to  mention 
his  health,  always  said,  "  I  am  very  well/'  His 
birthday  took  place  at  the  end  of  the  month, 
and  it  was  arranged  that  he  should  benefit  by  the 
sea  breezes  as  long  as  possible ;  consequently  he 
was  not  expected  home  much  before  the  day. 
Duly  at  the  appointed  time  Mr.  Mortimer  and  his 
family  set  off,  and  duly  they  arrived  at  the  beau- 
tiful seat  of  Sir  Francis  Digby.  Mary  and  Fred 
were  quartered  with  the  large  party  of  little  ones, 
of  whom  Lady  Digby's  younger  children,  ranging 
from  thirteen  to  three  years  old,  formed  the 
greater  share.  Nothing  was  thought  of,  from 
eldest  to  youngest,  but  pic-nics,  parties  of  pleasm'e, 
and  all  kinds  of  schemes  for  passing  away  the 
time  as  pleasantly  as  possible.     Many  of  Vernon's 


DASinVOOD    PKIORV.  131 

friends  were  iuvited ;  amouf;^  whom  were  Meredith 
and  Hamilton.  The  latter  was  previoush'  engaged, 
but  Meredith,  who  had  been  passing  part  of  his 
vacation  with  Reginald  and  Louis,  arrived  witli 
them.  Sir  George  Vernon  and  family  arrived  the 
evening  of  the  same  day  with  the  Mortimers,  and 
nearly  all  the  invited  visitors  were  accommodated 
in  the  large  castle  before  the  arrival  of  the  hero. 
Booms  that  had  not  been  used  for  years,  haunted 
rooms,  dilapidated  rooms,  light  closets,  and  dimly- 
lighted  apartments,  were  all  in  requisition.  Re- 
pairs and  cleansing  had  been  going  on  for  a  month 
or  two  previous  to  the  time,  to  make  ready  for 
the  large  inliux,  and  every  bed  in  the  two  village 
inns  was  engaged  for  the  night  of  the  twenty-third. 

Sir  George  was  disappointed  at  not  finding  his 
favouiite  grandson  at  home  to  meet  him ;  and  to 
indemnify  himself  for  this  disappointment,  he 
solaced  himself  by  dwelling  on  his  perfections 
to  several  gentlemen  with  his  accustomaiy  decision 
and  dogmatism,  as  he  walked  up  and  down  the 
long  drawing-room,  with  his  hands  behind  him. 

"  He'll  be  a  great  man,  sir,  one  of  these  days. 
His  father  will  of  course  get  him  into  Parliament. 
He  is  one  6f  those  brilliant  intellects,  sir,  that 
bear  everything  before  them.  It  always  was  so  ; 
from  a  child  he  could  do  anything  he  chose. 
^Vhy  I  remember — let  me  see — lifteen  years  ago 
— wiien  his  mother  brought  him  to  Ileronhurst — I 
set  him  a  Latin  lesson,  the  first  Ijatin  lesson  he  ever 
had,  and  he  took  it  away  laughing;  when  1  tried 
k2 


132  DASHWOOD    I'KIOKY. 

to  explain  it  to  liiui^  lie  said  saucily,  '  Oh,  gi'aud- 
papa,  I  know  ! '  and  then  he  went  and  sat  on  the 
window  seat,  and  kicked  his  legs  about  and  killed 
flies.  I  said  to  him,  '  You  are  not  learning  that, 
Vernon.'  '  Because  I  know  it,  grandpa,'  he  said, 
sharply;  and  sure  enough  he  did,  and  said  it  as 
well  as  you  or  I,  though,  to  my  certain  know- 
ledge, he  had  hardly  looked  at  it." 

"  Ay,  indeed  !  "  said  the  gentleman.  "  The 
most  extraordinary  part  is,  that  he  has  grown  up 
according  to  his  early  promise.  A  precocious 
child  seldom  ])ecomes  a  remarkable  man ;  large 
things  are  of  slow  growth." 

"  He  was  never  forced,  sir;  he  was  never  forced ; 
and  he  had  good  spirits,  and  liked  boys'  sports. 
The  danger  is,  sir,  in  forcing  the  intellect.  He 
has  been  judiciously  reared,  sir;  and  the  conse- 
quence is,  his  constitution  is  now  established,  and 
he  is  likely  to  be  a  useful  and  honourable  mem- 
ber of  society.  I  am  persuaded  all  depends  upon 
education.  People  often  talk  of  the  will  of  God, 
when  they  are  to  blame  themselves.  If  tliey  took 
proper  care,  adverse  tilings  would  not  happen,  in 
the  majority  of  cases.'* 

Sir  George's  state  of  happiness  was  exceedingly 
great ;  he  went  about  the  room  in  the  most  aftable 
state  of  mind,  to  hear  A  ernon's  praises  from  the 
many  mouths,  and  was  even  gracious  to  Frank 
and  Louis. 

The  following  day  Vernon  arrived,  between 
lunch  and  dinner.     Sir  George  was  in  the  mornincr 


DASHUOOD    rUIOKV.  133 

room  witli  some  members  of  the  family,  who,  as 
y\r]\  as  himself,  had  waited  at  home  to  receive 
him.  oil  the  chuuce  of  his  arrival.  As  the  carriau:c 
stopped,  a  troop  of  little  ones,  who  had  caught 
sijrht  of  the  approach,  rushed  out  hatless  and 
boanetless  to  greet  him.  He  got  out  quickly 
amongst  them,  and  several  minutes  were  occupied 
in  the  vociferous  Avelcomes  and  mutual  embraces. 

••  Now,  little  noisy  ones,"  he  exclaimed,  as  soon 
a.s  he  could  disengage  himself;  "  no  announce- 
ment, if  you  please ;  and  come  quietly  up,  if  you 
come  at  all.'' 

He  strode  across  the  wide  hall  into  the  well- 
known  room.  Here  his  welcome  was  scarcely  less 
noisy  than  that  previous ;  every  one  was  so  de- 
lighted to  see  him  again,  and  nearly  all  compli- 
mented him  on  his  irapioved  appearance.  His 
mother  looked  with  the  tenderest  fondness  on  his 
sliglit  graceful  form  and  brilliant  expression,  now 
lighted  up  with  animation  and  happiness;  and  in 
truth  it  was  a  beautiful  face  Avlien  examined, 
though  few  on  a  slight  acquaintance  wouhl  pro- 
iioutice  him  handsome. 

"  Does  he  not  look  well?"  said  Lady  ])igby,  as 
.she  resigned  the  hand  she  held  to  her  father. 

Sir  George  did  not  reply.  He  had  taken  his 
grandson's  hand  and  welcomed  him  heariily,  l)ut 
a  change  came  over  his  countenance,  \\hieh  a 
keen  ol)server  would  have  remarked  as  one  Ik* 
desired  to  conceal,  lie  held  the  hand  viry  fondly, 
and  looked  at  the  young  man  kindly  and  seriously. 


ISi  DASKWOOD    PRIORY. 

but  with  a  balf-affriglited  and  inquiring  expression. 
Vernon  was  apparently  too  much  occupied  to 
notice  his  grandfather's  unusual  manner.  He 
had  so  many  questions  to  answer,  and  so  much  to 
hear  before  it  was  time  to  dress^  and  he  retired 
soon,  in  order  to  escape  the  return  of  the  rest  of 
the  company  before  dinner. 

Keginald,  Louis,  and  the  young  people  fol- 
lowed his  example  very  shortly.  Lady  Digby,  her 
sister  and  brother,  remaining  a  little  longer. 
They  sat  near  a  window  talking  of  Vernon,  of  his 
improved  looks,  his  high  spirits,  his  affectionate 
disposition.  It  was  a  theme  on  which  Lady  Digby 
loved  to  enlarge,  and  her  companions  were  quite 
ready  to  indulge  her  by  listening  and  agreeing. 
Sir  George  continued  walking  up  and  down  the 
room  with  his  hands  behind  him.  Suddenly  he 
stopped  before  them,  and  said — 

"  Vernon  look  Avell,  Lady  Digby  ?  are  you  bhnd?" 

"  How  !  what  do  you  mean  ?     You  alarm  me." 

"  Some  one  must  be  alarmed  before  long/'  he 
replied,  gravely.  "  I  can't  tell  what  you  have 
been  thinking  of.  God  help  you,  Beatrice ;  you 
have  been  very  blind." 

Lady  Digby  turned  deadly  pale.  "  My  dear 
father  !  what — what  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  That  Vernon  is  ill— very  ill— fearfully  ill," 
repeated  Sir  George,  emphatically. 

Lady  Digby  and  Mrs.  Mortimer  looked  at  one 
another  with  blanched  lips,  and  then  at  Sir  George, 
wonderingly. 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  135 

*'  Ay,  I'm  not  out  of  iny  mind/'  said  the  old 
gentleman.  ''  I  know  Avhat  I  am  saying.  I  know 
it  too  well.  I  am  sorry  to  startle  you ;  but  you 
must  be  awakened.     He  must  be  nm*3ed." 

"  Wliat,  fatlier,  with  that  lovely  colour,  looking 
so  remarkably  well — looking  so  handsome  ?  "  said 
Lady  Digby,  gasping  between  each  word. 

''  It  is  even  so/'  replied  Sir  George,  sadly. 
"  Beatrice,  I'd — I'd  have  given — I'd  have — I'd 
have  given — I'd  give  all  I  possess  to  save  him ; 
but  it  is  too  late,  I  know." 

"Father!"  exclaimed  Lady  Digby,  bursting 
into  tears,  "  do  not  talk  so.  It  is  cruel  to  talk  in 
this  way  ! — indeed,  it  is  cruel." 

"  You  are  too  desponding,  sir,"  said  Mrs.  Mor- 
timer, in  a  tone  of  assumed  cheerfulness. 

Sir  George  never  acknowledged  himself  in  the 
wrong,  so  he  said  nothing,  but  stood  looking 
gloomily  and  sorro^\'fully  at  the  sisters.  Mr.  Ver- 
non roused  himself  and  attempted  to  cheer  his 
sistcr^s  spirits,  by  hinting  that  his  father  was 
rather  apt  to  take  fright ;  that  he  thought  Vernon 
Mas  looking  better  than  when  he  saw  him  last ; 
and  so  poor  Lady  Digby  went  to  dress  with  a 
heavy  heart,  but  determined  to  hope  and  deter- 
mined to  have  medical  ad\nce  at  once.  She  did  not 
tell  Sir  Francis  ;  she  could  not  bear  to  alarm  him  at 
such  a  time.  After  her  departure  Sir  George  con- 
tinued to  pace  up  and  down  the  room  in  a  state  of 
great  agitation,  murninring  to  himself  at  intervals, 
"Colour!    ura ! — what    madness     not    to    have 


136  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

looked  to  him  before  !  Colour — it's  a  fever-colour ! 
Where  could  they  be^  not  to  see  his  white  hands  ?" 
and  then  he  shook  his  head  mournfully_,  liis  eyes 
filled  with  tears,  and  he  took  a  few  turns  in 
silence.  "  Poor  fellow  !  poor  boy  !  couldn't  they 
see  his  breath  ?  um  !  It  was  not  all  eagerness — 
no  stairs — um  !  my  dear  boy !" — he  dashed  the 
back  of  his  hand  across  his  eyes. 

"Father,  you  are  too  much  alarmed/^  said 
Mr.  Vernon,  who  had  been  a  silent  spectator. 
"  You  have  alarmed  yourself  unnecessarily." 

"  God  grant  it ! ''  he  replied.  "  Clarence,  I 
liave  lost  two  sons  that  way — you  remember  one 
— and  I  know  every  step." 

"  I  see  he  is  not  the  thing,"  said  Mr.  Vernon ; 
"  but  I  cannot  see  cause  for  so  much  despondency. 
He  was  excited ;  remember  how  excitable  he  is ; 
rest  and  nursing  will  restore  him  yet." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  poor  Sir  George,  "  he  has  a 
good  constitution,  I've  always  said,  and  he  got 
over  that  terrible  illness  at  Dashwood ;  perhaps — 
but  they've  let  it  go  on  too  long; — madness, 
madness  ! — Lady  Digby  is  always  so  easy ;  Emily 
would  have  taken  better  cai'e  of  him." 

He  strode  hastily  out  of  the  room. 

Vernon  appeared  in  the  drawing-room  only  just 
before  dinner,  and  therebj-,  for  a  little  while, 
spared  himself  the  weariness  of  ansAvering  a 
number  of  common-place  inquiries.  He  singled 
out  a  favourite  lady,  and  devoted  himself  very 
assiduously  to  her  entertainment  on  the  wav  to 


DASIIWOOI)    PIUOKV.  137 

the  dining-room,  and  charmed  every  one  at  table 
by  the  brilliancy  of  his  conversation.  His  father 
■was  so  happy,  and  even  Sir  George's  fears  were, 
for  the  time,  lessened  by  the  s\mi:ht\y  nonchalance 
of  his  gifted  grandson ;  but  neither  he  nor  Lady 
Digby  forgot  to  notice,  amid  all  the  excitement 
and  cares  of  the  dinner,  that  the  contents  of 
his  plate  -.vere  sent  away  every  course,  almost 
untouched.  The  gentlemen  did  not  remain  long 
at  the  table,  and  Ycrnou  and  his  cousins  were  the 
first  of  the  party  who  entered  the  drawing-room. 
Their  attentions  were  so  immediately  and  con- 
stantly required,  that  the  evening  nearly  passed 
away  before  Lady  Digby  had  an  opportunity  of 
speaking  to  her  son;  but  her  anxious  care  being 
now  quite  aroused,  she  watched  him  as  constantly 
as  her  duties  allowed,  and  was  considerably 
relieved  by  his  unwearied  animation  and  high 
spirit.  "  I  cannot  think  what  my  fatlier  means," 
she  said  to  herself;  "  I  never  saw  him  looking  so 
well,  dear  fellow  1" 

When  the  festivities  of  the  evening  were  over, 
Vernon  came  to  his  mother  in  her  boudoir  to  wish 
her  good  night.  She  looked  anxiously  at  him  as 
she  hold  his  burning  hand. 

"  Good  night,  /nater  car'tssima .'"  he  said,  in 
a  tone  of  grave  playfulness,  almost  answering 
her  steady  gaze  by  one  as  fidl  of  moaning  from 
his  large  liquid  eyes. 

"  You  are  very  hot,  my  darling."' 

"How  should  1  be  otherwise,  mamma?     It's  a 


138  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

hot  niglit,  and  hot  roomS;  and  dancing — nothing 
very  -u^onderfal/^ 

"  You  did  not  dance  very  much,  my  dear :  I 
thought  you  were  dancing  rather  languidly." 

''Who  dances  otherwise  in  a  quadrille,  mater?" 
he  replied.  ''  I've  given  up  waltzes  and  polkas — 
they're  too  much  trouble." 

"You  did  not  take  much  dinner  after  your 
Journey,  my  love." 

"  Must  I  explain  how  I  tasted  of  everything, 
and  that  the  abundance  of  tastes  made  an  excel- 
lent dinner?  Y^ou  have  been  watching  me  in  a 
most  maternal  manner,"  he  answered,  looking  at 
her  again  as  if  his  soul  were  in  his  eyes.  "  Now, 
what  next  ?  " 

His  mother  still  looked  intently  at  him. 

"  Is  yovir  cough  quite  gone  ?" 

"  A  merveille,"  he  replied  carelessly. 

"  How  long  has  it  been  gone  ?" 

"It  seemed  to  go  lately  almost  suddenly," 
replied  her  son  gravely,  while  a  sudden  expression, 
as  of  pain,  passed  over  his  face. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  dear  ?" 

"  Nothing ; — the  bare  recollection  of  what  that 
cough  used  to  be  after  I  left  you,"  he  said  with  a 
little  laugh. 

The  laugh  produced  a  slight  hollow  cough, 
two  or  three  times  repeated,  and  his  mother 
remarked, — 

"  It  is  much  better,  but  not  well ;  take  care  of 
yourself,  dear." 


DASHWOOD    PRIOKY.  139 

"I'll  promise  you  that,"  he  answered  gaily, 
as  he  turned  to  his  father,  vrho  now  entered 
the  room. 

" Good  night,  father ;  it  is  Aery  late  or  very 
early." 

"  Good  night,  Yemon,"  said  his  father. 
"  Mamma,  he  looks  well,  doesn't  he  ?  The  sea 
agrees  with  him.  I  should  be  glad  to  see  him  a 
little  stouter,  though.  God  bless  you,  my  boy  ! 
my  proud,  ray  beautiful ! "  lie  added,  as  Vernon 
left  the  room. 

Lady  Digby  sighed  deeply,  but  softly ;  she 
■was  not  at  case,  though  her  mind  was  in  some 
measure  relieved.  She  did  not  know  how  Vernon 
had  striven  against  lassitude  that  evening  to  appear 
uell  in  her  eyes,  and  how,  now  the  spur  was 
removed,  he  sank  exhausted  on  his  bed,  where  he 
lay  full  half  an  hour  before  his  valet  eould  prevail 
on  him  to  undress.  This  valet  v.as  a  young 
Frenchman  he  had  brought  home  with  him,  and 
wiiom  he  cliose  to  have  in  constant  attendance 
now,  in  opposition  to  his  general  habits ;  for  till 
lately  he  had  always  expressed  his  a1)horrcnee 
of  valets  in  no  measured  terms,  and  gloried  in 
being  independent.  He  slept  l)ut  lightly,  con- 
stantly tossing  about,  and  disturbed  by  the  cough 
which  had  excited  so  little  alarm  in  his  mother. 


140  DASHWOOD    TRIORY. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

"  How  di-eadful  must  thy  summons  be,  O  Death  ! 
To  hisn  that  is  at  ease  in  Lis  possessions  : 
"Wjjo,  counting  on  long  years  of  pleasure  here, 
Is  quite  unfurnished  for  that  world  to  come. 
In  that  dread  moment,  how  the  frantic  soul 
Raves  round  the  walls  of  her  clay  tenement: 
Runs  to  each  avenue,  and  shrieks  for  help  ; 
But  shrieks  in  vain.     How  wistfully  she  looks 
On  all  she's  leaving,  now  no  longer  hers." — Blair. 

"  Remember  now  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth  ; 
while  the  evil  daj'S  come  not." — Eccles.  xii.  1. 

Vernon  arose  the  next  morning  unrefreshed,  and 
weary  from  liis  troubled  feverish  sleep^  and  during 
his  toilet  his  cough  was  unusually  troublesome. 

"  Comment,  ]5asire,  ma  toux  revient ;  donnez- 
moi  la  bouteille,  et  doucementj  nc  me  derangerez 
pas." 

"  Monsieur  se  fatigue  trop/^  replied  the  man, 
as  he  measured  a  dose  of  the  cough  mixture,  with 
a  considerable  tenderness  of  manner. 

"  Vous  avez  raison,  Basire,  apres  domain  je  me 
delasserai — aujourd'hui  c'est  impossible,  et  domain 
c'est  encore  plus  impossible.  Ma  fete,  vous  savez, 
Basire.  Pas  un  mot  de  cette  toux — comprenez- 
vous  ?  " 


DASH  WOOD    PRIORY.  Ml 

Basire  shrugged  his  shoulders^  and  signified  his 
comprehension  in  an  undecided  manner,  as  Vernon 
languidly  left  the  room. 

If  Lady  Digby  had  congratulated  herself  on 
his  good  looks  the  preceding  evening,  she  could 
do  so  no  longer,  as  his  wan  face  and  sunken  eyes 
met  her  gaze  at  breakfast.  He  was  too  ill  to 
make  any  elfort  to  appear  lively;  all  he  could 
assume  was  a  cheerful  manner. 

Sir  George  was  fidgety,  and  visibly  uneasy,  and 
when  breakfast  was  over,  he  summoned  Ycrnou 
and  his  father  to  a  council  in  another  room, 
beginning  by  minutely  inquiring  into  Vernon's 
ailments.  He  could  get  but  little,,  however,  out 
of  his  grandson. 

^'ernon  laughed  at  the  idea  of  being  ill.  ''  He 
was  excited  at  returning  home;  had  had  a  bad 
night — had  caught  a  little  cold — there  was  nothing 
the  matter." 

"  Nothinif  the  mailer,  with  that  cough  ?"  re- 
peated Sir  George. 

"  A  mere  trifle,  sir,"  replied  Vernon,  with  so 
much  indifference  in  his  manner,  that  his  grand- 
father grew  angry. 

"  You  may  call  it  what  you  please,  sir,  but  it 
will  kill  you  if  you  won't  take  proprr  care  of 
it.  Sir  Francis,  I  should  insist  upon  his  seeing 
Dr.  Maccy.  You  hear  how  he  has  been  coughing 
this  morning;  you  see  how  he  looks.  No  com- 
ment is  needed,  and  words  will  be  wasted  in 
argument." 


142  DASHWOOD    PIUORY. 

"  How  I  have  been  coughing  !  I  haven't  been 
coughing/'  rephed  Vernon. 

"  I  have  done,  sir/'  said  Sir  George,  majesti- 
cally. "  AYere  you  my  son,  I  should  order  you  out 
of  the  room ;  as  you  are  not,  I  shall  go  myself." 

"  Grandfather,  grandfather,  forgive  me,"  ex- 
claimed Vernon,  hastily  placing  himself  between 
Sir  George  and  the  door.  ''  I  am  mr.vorthy  of 
your  solicitude.  I  am  really  sorry.  I  will  go  out 
if  you  will  not  stay  in  the  room." 

But  Sir  George  put  him  aside  and  persisted  in 
retreating,  leaving  Vernon  alone  with  his  parents. 
He  was  exceedingly  sorry,  and  went  after  his 
grandfather,  using  all  his  eloquence  to  induce  him 
to  return,  but  in  vain,  and  he  returned  to  his  father. 

Sir  Francis  quietly  but  decidedly  expressed  his 
intention  of  summoning  Dr.  Macey  that  day,  and 
in  the  same  manner  reproved  Vernon  for  his  petu- 
lance concerning  their  anxiety. 

"  That  you  are  not  the  thing  is  plaiu,'^  he  said, 
^'or  you  would  think  it  unworthy  to  refuse  so 
small  a  request.  I  am  going  to  S this  morn- 
ing, and  will  send  the  Doctor  myself;  and,  Vernon, 
I  shall  be  most  seriously  displeased  if  you  do  not 
see  him.  I  wish  you  had  come  home  before.  It 
would  have  been  better  to  postpone  the  merry- 
making till  you  Avere  quite  strong."  As  Sir 
Francis  went  out,  Vernon  threw  himself  on  a  sofa 
in  an  agony  of  vexation. 

"  I  will  go  out ;  I  won't  sec  Dr.  Maccy.  Bored 
to  death  with  doctors  !  doctors,  is  there  to  be  no 


The  Children  introduced  to  Vernon. 


DASnWOOD    PRIORY.  1 -IS* 

end  of  doctors  !  I  had  enough  of  them  last  ycfir ; 
can't  I  catch  a  slight  cold  without  doctors'  medi- 
cines to  cure  me !  " 

Lady  Digby  attempted  to  soothe  him,  and  had 
partially  succeeded,  ivhen  several  of  the  little  girls 
entered  in  their  birthday  dresses  of  white  worked 
muslin,  with  broad  pink  sashes.  They  were  a 
pretty  little  group.  Mary  Mortimer  and  Bessie 
A'emon,  dressed  exactly  like  their  cousins,  were 
in  the  advance  with  Mary  Digby,  who  wai  about 
their  age,  and  Fanny,  Kosalic,  and  little  baby 
Laura,  brought  up  the  rear. 

"Mamma,  we've  come  to  show  you  our  new 
frocks,"  cried  Rosahe.  "  Vernon,  we've  got  pink, 
your  favourite  colour ;  and,  mamma,  all  the  boys' 
dresses  have  come  home,  and  Charlotte's  and 
Louisa's  ball  dresses.  Oh,  they  are  so  beautiful ! 
Will  you  come  and  look  at  them  ?  Vernon,  do 
come  and  look  at  them." 

"  They  are  pink  crape,  with  silver  flowers  on 
them,  Vernon,"  said  Fanny.  "  Do  come  into  the 
school-room  ;  they  are  all  there,  and  Frank,  and 
Reginald,  and  Louis,  and  Mr.  Mcreditli,  are  all 
there,  too." 

Vernon  did  not  attempt  to  resist  their  persua- 
sions. He  lifted  the  baby  on  his  shoulder,  to  the 
great  detriment  of  her  new  dress,  and  marched 
along  to  the  school-room,  where  the  new  dresses 
lay  in  their  glittering  beauty.  Vernon  was  called 
upon  to  admire  evcrytldng,  in  consequence  of  all 
being  provided  to  do  him  honour,     lie  insisted 


144  DASHWOOU    PRIORY. 

upon  his  two  eldest  sisters  arraying  themselves  in 
their  new  robes,  and  a  merry  half-hour  was  spent 
in  descanting  on  the  alterations  and  additions 
required  from  the  dress-maker,  who  had  come  from 

S Avith  them.     May  we  be  allowed  to  use  the 

word  "  spe]it "  instead  of  "  wasted/^  in  connection 
with  the  half-hour  above  mentioned,  for  sui'ely  on 
such  an  occasion  half  an  hour's  sympathy  with  a 
young  party's  pleasure  was  not  mis-spent  time  ? 

"  And  now  do  get  up,  you  lazy  fellow,  and  come 
out,"  exclaimed  Reginald,  when  the  survey  was 
presumed  to  be  finished.  As  he  spoke  he  suited 
the  action  to  his  words,  by  lifting  little  Laura 
high  in  the  air,  from  the  end  of  the  sofa  on  which 
Vernon  was  now  lying  fiill  length,  and  jumping 
her  on  the  floor ;  he  then  disengaged  Rosalie  from 
his  feet,  and  commenced  an  attack  on  Vernon,  by 
turning  the  couch  on  its  side,  and  rolling  his 
cousin  on  the  floor.     "  Get  up  and  come  out ! " 

"  He's  not  a  lazy  fellow,"  cried  Httle  Rosalie, 
running  up  to  help  him.  ''  He's  a  dear  good, 
kind  boy." 

"  Boy  indeed ! "  exclaimed  Vernon,  as  he  re- 
covered his  legs  slowly,  playfulh"^  seizing  his  sister 
by  her  arms.     "  How  dare  you  call  me  a  boy  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  Avon't  be  a  man  till  to-morrow,  you 
know ;  Frank  said  so." 

"  That's  a  horrid  cram  of  Frank's,"  cried  Ver- 
non. "  He's  always  talking  some  absurd  nonsense, 
I  wonder  you  ever  believe  him ;  he  knows  nothing 
at  all  about  it." 


DAMIWOOI)     rillOllY.  1  15 

•'  You  are  rcully  a  man,  arc  you  uot?" 
"  Well,  to  case  your  anxious  mind,  suppose  you 
call  me  au  individual  for  the  next  few  liom-s;  only 
after  to-morrow,  let  me  hear  you  at  yom-  peril 
call  your  eldest  l)rothcr  a  hoy  again.  High! 
What,  here's  Lady  Laura  coming  for  more  romps. 
I  tied  Lady  Laura — can't  make  my  head  a  foot- 
stool any  more.  My  arms  have  not  recovered 
their  temporary  usage  as  a  crane  for  hoisting  light 
weights,  to  say  nothing  of  being  almost  smothered 
just  now  by  a  very  bustling  muslin  frock,  and 
htiving  my  eyes  nearly  put  out  with  the  corner  ot 
a  sash.  No ;  no  more  of  that,  an't  please  your 
ladyship — come  Reginald,  out  of  the  way,  if  we 
must  go;  tome." 

"  Why,  you  arc  panting  as  if  you  had  been 
jumping  over  a  five-barred  gate,"  said  Reginald, 
as  his  cousin  seized  his  arm.  They  made  their 
way  out  with  some  difficulty,  and  it  was  not  till 
Lady  Digby  had  relieved  liim  by  a  few  cxpostula- 
tory  words,  that  the  children  allowed  them  free 
egress. 

"  And  now,  where  are  we  to  go  ? "  asked 
Vernon. 

"  I  have  not  seen  anything  yet,"  said  Reginald  ; 
■"  1  want  to  walk  round  the  home-park,  and  set- 
some  of  your  improvements;  and  there  is  that 
Ixautiful  tower  your  father  has  been  l)uilding,  in 
honour  of  you.  lie  wanted  to  show  nie  tlie  view 
from  it;  but  I  declined,  as  I  wislicil  to  see  it 
\N  ith  vou." 


146  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  Come,  then,  most  devoted  and  fraternal 
cousin,  I  shall  be  happy  to  act  cicerone,  if  my 
powers  of  leg  do  not  fail  me." 

"  Powers  of  leg  1  You  prince  of  laziness  !  you 
have  grown  very  weak  in  your  understanding 
lately.  We'll  catch  a  deer,  and  place  you  thereon, 
if  you  are  tired.  I  see  you  want  me  to  get  you 
into  good  habits;  you  have  been  with  that  lazy 
fellow  St.  John  till  you  have  forgotten  that  any- 
body ever  does  am'^thing ;  with  your  monsieur.  I 
am  really  afraid  of  you,  "^'emon." 

"  So  am  I,"  replied  Vernon,  coolly.  "  I  am 
very  much  afraid  of  myself.  It  is  really  so 
amazingly  comfortable  to  have  things  done  for 
us,  that  I  wish  a  patent  walking-machine  was 
invented  ;  one's  legs  really  are  not  fit  for  long 
walks." 

"  Shall  I  send  for  monsieur  to  carry  you,  dear 
boy?" 

"  Thank  you,"  replied  Vernon,  nonchalantly ; 
"  it  would  be  very  comfortable,  only  he  would  let 
me  fall  to  a  certainty.  Perhaps,  if  I  am  too  tired 
to  proceed,  you  and  INIcredith,  as  the  strongest  of 
the  party,  will  carry  me  qucen's-chaii'  fashion.  Is 
that  a  bargain  before  we  start,  Meredith  ?  " 

Meredith,  Avho  Avith  Prank  and  Louis  had 
joined  them,  laughingly  acquiesced. 

"  I  do  not  know  what  the  rest  of  the  party  will 
think  of  us,"  said  Vernon ;  "  but  they  really  must 
take  care  of  themselves  to-day  as  yesterday  with- 
out me." 


DASH^V0OD    PRIORY.  147 

"  Arthur  and  Charles  ai-c  very  devoted/'  said 
Frank,  "  and  I  shall  return  soon ;  so  you  may 
make  yourself  easy  on  that  score." 

"  I  shall  be  very  attentive  to-morrow,  to  niukc 
up,"  said  Vernon. 

The  castle,  a  large  imposing  pile  of  building, 
originally  built  in  the  time  of  Edward  the  Third, 
but  considerably  altered  and  modified  by  succeed- 
injr  ereneratious,  stood  a  little  distance  from  the 
summit  of  one  of  a  range  of  beautiful  hills, 
which  rose  aroimd  it,  nearly  covered  with  trees. 
A  winding  road,  now  and  then  discernible  among 
the  trees,  led  to  it  from  the  park,  and  immedi- 
ately along  the  front  of  the  building  was  a  broad 
marble  terrace,  from  which  a  noble  flight  of  steps 
led  to  the  smooth  green  ascent  below.  A  wide 
expanse  of  rich  park-land,  and  meadow  upon 
meadow,  interspersed  with  cottages  and  houses  of 
more  magnificent  pretensions,  lay  before  you  as 
you  stood  on  tlie  teri*aec,  and  on  one  side  a  con- 
siderable parish  church,  of  no  remarkable  archi- 
tectural beauty ;  near  which  was  the  i)arsonage- 
house  and  the  "  Uigby  iVrms,"  the  principal  inn 
of  the  place, — for  Combe  Digby,  though  only  a 
hamlet  in  name,  was  of  considerable  extent,  and 
])oasted  a  High-street  of  its  own.  The  time  of 
the  year  and  the  beauty  of  the  weather  were  all 
favourable  to  the  exhibition  of  the  beauties  of  the 
place. 

Vernon  led  the  way  silently  with  Reginald 
down  the  hill  to  a  beautiful  dell,  wliicli  was  laid 
1,2 


148  DASHWOOD    I'KIOKY. 

out  witli  much  tasteful  regard  to  its  uneven 
propensities.  They  passed  clump  after  clump  of 
beautiful  oaks  and  spreading:  beeches,  ^vhosc 
colour  was  slightly  changed  by  the  breath  of 
autumn.  Startled  deer  occasionally  fled  from 
their  approach  to  the  shelter  of  distant  trees, 
and  now  and  then,  as  they  brushed  through  the 
more  woody  entanglement  of  shrubs  and  bushes 
which  guarded  the  ap])roach  to  the  dell,  they 
roused  a  hare,  or  a  co^'ey  of  partridges  flew  into 
the  air.  Reginald  thought  he  had  humoured  his 
cousin's  silent  fancy  long  enough,  and,  in  common 
with  Frank  and  Meredith,  burst  into  a  very 
sportsman-like  ejaculation  on  the  latter  appari- 
tion. 

"What  a  pity  we  have  no  guns,"  exclaimed 
Meredith. 

"We  are  not  in  a  sportive  mood  just  now," 
said  Vernon,  quietly ;  "  you  had  better  make  a 
morning  of  it  after  to-morrow.  jNIy  father's  pre- 
serves are  veiy  good,  only  I  must  confess  I  have 
very  little  fancy  for  shooting ;  I  never  could  learn 
how  to  hold  a  gun  properly,  and  have  always  a 
wholesome  dread  of  shooting  myself." 

"  What  a  shame,  with  all  this  abundance !  " 
said  Reginald. 

"  CJiacun  a  son  ijout,"  replied  Vernon,  in  the 
same  languid  tone  ;  "  there's  all  the  more  for  my 
friends,  and  yovi  are  welcome  to  come  and  blaze 
away  as  much  and  as  often  as  you  like ;  and  fur- 
ther, if  it  will  afford  you  any  satisfaction,  I  will 


DASHWOOI)     I'KIOKV.  1  !'.» 

{live  you  tlio  inexpressible  pleasure  of  my  com- 
pany on  such  occasion.  Quant  a  mol" — he  mur- 
mured, in  conclusion,  as  lie  glanced  at  the  pee[) 
of  blue  sky  the  trees  permitted  to  appear. 

"  How  very  beautiful  this  is,  Vernon,"  re- 
marked Louis. 

"  I  thoufrht  it  would  please  you,"  said  Vernon  ; 
"it  was.  always  a  favourite  spot  of  mine.  "When 
I  was  sulky,  I  came  and  sulked  here ;  Mhen  I 
Avas  in  a  dramatic  Inmiour,  I  plaj-ed  Robinson 
Crusoe  here  ;  and  many  is  the  time  in  the  vaca- 
tions I've  pretended  to  be  very  studious  in  that 
seat.     This  is  my  willow,  Louis." 

Louis  lauirhed. 

"It  is  nice,"  he  said,  "to  have  a  summer- 
parlour  of  our  own,  is  it  not,  Vernon  ?  " 

''  For  us  sentimental  ones  it  is,"  rejoined 
A  ernou. 

"  You  sentimental!"  exclaimed  Reginald ;  "noii- 
-t  ii<e;  you  and  I  row  in  the  sjime  Ijoat,  Vernon. 
You  like  the  open  air,  and  walking,  and  boating, 
and  all  those  sort  of  things ;  at  least  you  did, 
oidy  really  you've  become  so  abominably  la/y, 
I  don't  know  what  else  may  have  come  to 
yon." 

Vernon  smiled,  and,  )iiaking  no  reply,  scenu-d 
very  well  content  to  remain  under  any  imputation 
his  cousin  pleiused. 

"  Hut,  upon  my  word,  this  is  a  beautiful 
place  ;  we  can't  show  you  anything  like  it  at 
|)asln\  ()(.(!." 


150  DASnWOOD    FKIORY. 

"  Your  grounds  are  so  much  more  extensive 
thau  ours/^  said  Louis. 

"  Oh !  there's  no  scenery  at  Dashwood/'  said 
Reginald;  "it's  only  a  pretty  comfortable  place." 

"  It  is  beautiful/'  said  Vernon,  almost  ab- 
sently ;  "  I  am  much  attached  to  it ;  and  yet  I 
do  not  think  it  is  entirely  the  scenery  that  charms 
me.  We  are  all  creatures  of  association,  Regi- 
nald. This  dell  abounds  with  the  silver  bu'ch; 
and  I  never  see  a  birch  anywhere  from  home 
that  it  does  not  call  forth  a  \'er3-  pleasant,  and  yet 
a  craving  feeling,  — a  kind  of  craving  for  that  past 
time  when  so  little  charmed  me.  I  am  not  quite 
past  that  yet,"  he  added ;  "  but  my  desires  arc 
getting  larger,  and  I  am  afraid  I  am  groAving 
more  censorious  and  less  easily  satisfied ;  it  is  the 
natural  consequence  of  greater  experience ;  but  I 
hope  I  shall  never  get  into  that  miserable  state  of 
being  wearied  of  everything." 

"  Never  fear,"  said  Reginald ;  "  you  of  all 
others  are  likely  to  taste  largely  of  the  pleasures 
of  life  :  really,  Vernon,  just  think — ■" 

"Don't  tell  him  to  think,"  said  Meredith; 
"  don't  you  see  he  is  in  a  brown  study,  apropos 
of  the  pleasures  of  life.  I  sometimes  think  that 
happiness  does  not  always  go  with  the  abundance 
of  life's  pleasm'es." 

"  That  is  true,  Meredith,"  rejoined  Louis ; 
"the  happiest  persons  are  often  those  who  have 
fewest  of  this  life's  pleasures." 

"  I  often  think  that  my  cup  of  life  is  very  full 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  151 

of  most  gijod  tilings/'  said  Vcniou,  tliouglitfuUy. 
"  My  life  is  almost  too  little  inten-upted  by  trifles; 
I  never  wish  for  a  thing  but  I  get  it." 

''Too  happy!"  said  Meredith.  "You  are 
gro\^■ing  more  humble  than  I  used  to  think  you/' 

"  Or  more  superstitious/'  said  Vernon^  in  the 
same  quiet  tone  :  "  '  They  whom  the  gods  love  die 
yoimg  /  and  I  bchevc  it,  Meredith.  An  old  nurse 
of  mine  once  said,  speaking  of  her  childhood,  *  It 
wa';  so  happy,  ^Master  Digby,  I  thought  I  must 
really  be  going  to  die  young.' " 

"  But  she  lived  to  be  old,  didn't  she?"  asked 
Meredith  ;  '•  so  there  goes  your  theory  at  once." 

A  hearty  laugh  was  raised  at  Vernon's  expense. 
He  joined  in  it  himself,  saying,  as  it  died  away, — 

"  Ah  well,  so  she  did ;  I  did  not  see  the  fallacy 
of  my  illustration." 

"  You  have  a  fit  of  the  vapours,  I  am  afraid," 
said  Reginald  ;  "  walk  a  little  faster,  and  shake  it 
out  of  you." 

"  Xot  iip-hill,"  said  Vernon  cheerfully,  resisting 
his  cousin's  energetic  pulls ;  "  I  have  not  recovered 
my  journey." 

Tluv  were  now  mounting  one  of  the  hills  by 
the  winding  path  that  ran  round  the  back  of 
the  house  ;  several  times  Vernon  stopped,  and  the 
little  hollow  cough  was  painfully  perceptible  even 
to  Ke^inald. 

"^^'hy,  Vernon,  you  arc  not  well,"  he  said,  as 
they  stopped  near  the  brow  of  the  hill,  when  a 
few  steps  more  would  liavc  placed  them  at  the  top. 


152  DASH  WOOD    PRIORY. 

"  I  must  have  taken  cold  yesterday ;  my  cough 
has  returned  a  little  to-day^  but  there  is  not  much 
the  matter/'  he  replied,  in  a  low  exhausted  tone ; 
and  after  resting  a  few  minutes,  he  led  them  to 
the  entrance  of  the  "  Vernon  ToAver,"  which  was 
completed  in  honour  of  his  coming  of  age.  A 
cart  and  various  tools  about,  showed  that  the  task 
of  clearing  the  rubbish  and  beautifying  the  envi- 
rons was  in  progress.  The  Avorkmen  Avere  gone 
to  their  dinner,  and  Vernon  and  his  companions 
sat  doAVD  on  one  of  the  stone  seats  placed  in  the 
doorway  to  look  at  the  glorious  prospect. 

"The  prospect  is  much  finer  from  the  top,'* 
said  Louis.  "  There  is  a  staircase  inside ;  let  us 
go  up.'' 

"Lunch  must  be  ready,"  said  Frank.  "It  is 
half-past  one." 

" '  Time  was  made  for  slaves,' "  said  Reginald ; 
"  come,  Vernon,  I  have  not  seen  it." 

The  ascent  inside  the  tower,  Avhich  Avas  very 
lofty,  was  slow  and  fatiguing ;  but  Avhen  the 
summit  was  gained,  the  magnificent  panoramic 
vicAV  Avell  repaid  the  toil, — rich  pasture-land, 
Avaving  corn-fields,  thick  plantations  of  trees, 
houses  at  intervals,  showing  a  thickly-populated 
country.  The  young  men  stood  side  by  side  in 
silence :  Vernon  with  a  sAvelling  heart,  and  full 
glistening  eyes. 

"  '  I  ;un  nioiiarcli  of  all  I  sui'vcy,'  " 

said  Reginald  playfully,  turning  to  A'crnou,     "  Do 


DAS II  woo  I)   riuoitY.  153 

yon  not  feci  proud  that,  this  fiiir  hind  liilonged  to 
your  fathers  before  you,  Yernou?'^ 

Vernon  smiled,  and  looked  Avith  earnest,  lustrous 
eyes  on  all  aroimd  him.  But  his  proud  expression 
faded  gradually  into  one  both  mournful  and 
serious.  He  turned  from  the  others,  seemingly 
wrapped  in  his  own  meditations. 

"  The  lot  has  fallen  to  you  in  a  fair  ground, 
Vernon,'  said  Louis,  whose  heart  was  full,  but 
with  difl'crent  emotions. 

"  Yea,  I  have  a  goodly  heritage,''  replied 
Vernou,  with  a  sigh. 

''  I  hope  you  say  that  in  its  largest  sense,"  said 
Louis,  gently. 

Vernon  was  silent  for  a  moment;  he  then 
replied,  still  looking  intently  on  the  distant  hills, — 
"  David  used  it  of  his  inheritance." 

"  But,  surely,"  added  Louis,  "  David  looked 
beyond  liis  kingdom  ;  for  did  he  not  thank  God 
for  that  when  he  said,  '  What  am  I,  and  what  is 
my  father's  house,  that  Thou  hast  brought  me 
liithcrto?'  he  also  said,  'The  Lord  is  the  portion 
of  mine  inheritance,  and  my  cup  :  Thou  main- 
taincst  my  lot.'  Things  pass  away  so  quickly  on 
earth,  we  need  some  continuing  city,  flo  we  not. 
where  we  may  place  our  treasures'.'" 

An  expression  of  the  most  intense  sadness 
settled  on  Vernon's  countenance  as  Louis  spoke, 
and  he  rcj)licd,  still  without  looking  at  him, — 

•'  I'uiiiins  ranitattoii,  ooniia  vaii'ilas  !  The 
picachcr  was  a   wise   man,  Louis.     'There   is  an 


154  nASIIWOOD    PRIORY. 

evil  under  tlie  sun.  and  it  is  common  among  men ; 
a  man  to  vrhom  God  hath  given  riches^  "wealth, 
and  honour,  so  that  he  Manteth  nothing;' 
'  ivantetli  nothing  for  his  soul  of  all  that  he 
desireth/  he  repeated,  with  l^itter  emphasis; 
'  yet  God  giveth  him  not  power  to  eat  thereof/ 
^  As  it  happeneth  to  the  fool,  so  it  happeneth  even 
to  me,  and  why  was  I  then  more  wise  ?  For  there 
is  no  remembrance  of  the  wise  more  than  of  the 
fool  for  ever.  And  how  dieth  the  wise  man  ? 
EVEN  AS  THE  TOOL.  I  lookcd  ou  the  works  that 
my  hands  had  wrought,  and  on  the  labour  I  had 
laboured  to  do,  and  behold  all  was  vanity  and 
vexation,  and  no  profit  under  the  sun.'  " 

Vernon  uttered  these  words  rapidly,  and  there 
was  a  bitterness  and  earnestness  in  his  manner 
that  alarmed  and  startled  Louis ;  who  replied, — 

"  But  the  wisdom  spoken  of  there  is  the 
'  wisdom  of  the  world,  that  is  foolishness  with 
God,'  Vernon.  'The  remembrance  of  the  just 
is  blessed :'  '  Say  ye  to  the  righteous,  it  shall  be 
well  with  him  !'" 

"  "What  are  you  two  talking  of  so  earnestly 
there?"  exclaimed  Reginald,  who  had  been 
engaged  in  a  meriy  discussion  with  Frank  and 
Meredith  at  the  other  side.  Hoav  grave  you  are  ! 
Why,  Louis,  you  look  quite  frightened." 

"  As  for  Vernon,  he's  in  the  dumps  this  morn- 
ing," said  Frank  :  "  the  ghosts  of  his  forefathers 
are  haunting  him.  Never  mind,  Vernon,  don't 
be  heroic ;  never  mind  the  ancestry.     I  mean  to 


DA  ^11  WOOD    PKIOHV.  155 

throw  mine  overboard,  and  be  suflicicnt  for  my- 
self. When  I  write  my  personal  recollections,  I 
shall  commence,  '  I  was  the  son  of  my  father,  and 
that  was  honour  enough  for  me  and  for  him ;'  and 
now  I'm  hungry,  and  I  dare  say  the  company  will 
Avant  me.  Meredith,  come  along:  you  saw  all, 
and  had  all  your  poetry  and  sentiments  called 
forth  yesterday.  Come,  Louis,  come  and  have 
some  lunch :  we'll  leave  the  sou  and  heir  in  the 
clouds,  as  he's  inclined  to  be  so  mysterious." 

Louis  followed  Frank  and  Meredith  down  the 
staircase ;  and  "\'ernon,  rousing  himself,  began  to 
point  out  some  places  of  note  to  Reginald.  The 
others  had  not  left  them  many  minutes,  when 
the  workmen  returned.  They  caught  sight  of  the 
jjentlcmen  Ijcfore  thev  reached  the  tower,  and 
came  running  up  the  liill,  waving  their  caps  aud 
cheering.  As  they  reached  the  tower,  Vernon 
and  llcginald  heard  distinctly,  "  Ilui'rah !  Long 
live  Mr.  ^'('ruon  !  Our  young  master  for  ever ' 
Ciod  bless  our  young  master !  " 

Vernon's  colour  rose ;  his  eyes  sparkled  as  he 
took  off  his  hat,  and  returned  their  vivas  with  a 
low  inchnation.  He  descended  immediately,  and 
stopped  to  shake  hands  with  them,  and  to  spcalc 
the  few  kind  hearty  words,  which  remained  loiii; 
in  their  affectionate  remembrance,  after  the  tongue 
that  uttered  them  was  silenced.  As  he  proceeded 
down  the  hill,  many  were  the  fervent  blessings 
invoked  on  his  head,  mingled  with  some  pitying 
remarks  on  his  delicate  appearance.     There  was 


156  DASH  WOOD    PRIORV. 

iioAv  but  a  sliort  distance  to  traverse  before  they 
reached  the  liouse;  but  though  it  was  all  down- 
hill to  the  terrace,  Avhen  the  enthusiasm  the  ren- 
contre with  the  workmen  had  called  up  had 
])assed  aAvay,  Vernon  seemed  quite  overcome. 
He  leaned  heavily  on  Reginald's  arm,  and  often 
paused ;  but  to  all  Reginald's  bantering  remarks 
on  his  laziness,  he  scarcely  made  any  reply ;  and 
at  length  Reginald  was  alive  to  the  fact,  that 
there  was  something  very  much  amiss,  and  felt 
anxious  to  get  him  home  as  quickly  as  possible. 
The  ascent  up  the  broad  steps  was  fearfully 
tedious,  Vei'non's  breath  seemed  almost  gone, 
as  they  reached  the  terrace.  lie  staggered  across, 
with  Reginald's  help,  and  sat  down  on  one  ot 
the  little  iron  seats  placed  near  the  buttresses, 
gasping. 

"  Dear  Vernon,  you  are  very  ill.  What  is  it?" 
said  Reginald. 

He  Avas  afraid  to  leave  him,  yet  anxious  for 
help,  and  Avas  going  to  call  out,  Avhen  Vernon 
looked  up  piteously,  and  just  gasped  out,  "No, 
don't ;  I  shall  be  better." 

He  then  bent  his  head  doAvn,  and  leaned  it 
against  the  buttress. 

For  a  few  minutes  Reginald  stood  in  distressed 
silence,  looking  at  him.  At  length  he  drew  a 
deep  breath,  and  then,  looking  up  at  his  cousin 
with  his  eyes  full  of  tears,  he  said, — 

"  It  is  of  no  use  deceiving  myself  any  longer. 
I  cannot,  Reginald.     I  am  sure  I  am  dying  ;  and 


DAsH\V()(Jl)     PUIOKY.  157 

I   ^.m  a  coward,  for   1  dare  not  be  told   tliat  I 

Poor  Reginald  felt  as  if  his  circulation  had 
suddenly  stopped,  and  he  could  not  speak  at  first ; 
but,  soon  recovering  himself,  he  replied  as  cheer- 
fully as  he  he  could, — 

"  Nonsense  ;  you  are  low-spirited,  Vernon : 
you  nuist  not  give  way  in  this  manner.  You 
have  taken  cold ;  but  a  little  cold  docs  not  kill 
one,  though  it  is  uncomfortable.  Never  say  '  die,' 
— it  is  not  like  you." 

''  Therefore,^'  returned  Vernon,  "  you  may  Ije 
sure  it  is  not  a  little  that  has  made  me  say  it. 
Reginald,  I  have  much  to  say,  but  this  is  too 
public  a  place ;  let  me  have  your  arm  up  stairs. 
Stay  one  moment :  promise  me  that  you  will 
never  say  you  saw  me  in  tears.  I  am  so  weak, 
and  so  broken  down,  I  could  not  help  it;  but  it 
is  most  unmanly." 

Reginald,  nevertheless,  could  hardly  restrain 
his  ou  n,  as  he  gave  the  earnestly  required  promise ; 
he  knew  how  intense  must  have  been  the  feeling 
that  could  draw  them  from  his  cousin. — for  himself 
especially.  He  led  him  in  silence  through  the 
liall,  and  they  mounted  the  stairs  very  slowly, 
tiiough  \'ernon  exerted  himself  sullieiently  to 
excite  no  particular  attention  among  those  servants 
who  were  standing  about.  AVheu  they  reached 
liis  room,  he  rang  the  bell,  and  lying  down  on  the 
bed  closed  his  eyes.  Reginald  was  so  l)ew  ildcred 
lie   hardlv  knew    what  to  door  what    he  tliouglit, 


158  DASIIWOOD    PRIORY. 

but  the  speedy  entrance  of  the  valet  relieved  him 
from  his  perplexities.  Directly  Basire  saw  Vernon, 
he  produced  a  restorative,  and  tenderly  raising  his 
head,  he  gave  it  him.  In  a  few  minutes  Vernon 
appeared  much  as  he  had  been  before  the  com- 
mencement of  the  walk. 

"  Merci,  Basire,"  he  said,  with  a  smile.  "^Mou 
cousin  ne  connait  pas  ces  afFaires-ci ;  nous,— nous 
y  sommes  accoutumes.  Mettez  la  bouteille  sur 
cette  petite  table,  et  puis  vous  pouvez  quitter  la 
chambre.     Je  desire  etre  seul  avee  Monsieur.^' 

The  servant,  with  a  manner  in  whicli  affection 
and  concern  were  blended,  did  as  desired,  and  left 
the  room  with  a  noiseless  tread,  after  Vernon  had 
further  desired  that  if  Dr.  Macey  called,  he  shoidd 
be  shown  up  at  once  to  his  room. 

"  And  now,  Reginald,  I  have  a  long  tale  to  tell 
you,  which  I  can  tell  to  no  one  but  you.  I  cannot 
tell  my  parents,  they  are  too  much  wrapped  up 
in  me.  My  grandfather — poor  grandfather  !  he 
would  not  break  it  gently  to  them.  Oh,  Regi- 
nald !  take  care  of  your  health.  I  am  sure  it  is 
a  sin  to  neglect  it.  I  am  heavily  punished  for  my 
self-will.  Take  care  of  beginnings ;  you  are  well 
now,  and  perhaps  have  naturally  a  stronger  con- 
stitution than  I  have;  but  I  never  thought  I 
could  be  ill.  It  seemed  nonsense;  but  oh,  what  a 
bitter  reahty  it  is  now — a  full  cup  of  happiness 
at  my  lips,  it  is  about  to  be  dashed  down  for  ever ! '' 

"  My  dear  Vernon,"  said  Reginald,  very  ear- 
nestly, "  what  did  you  mean  by  saying  you  had 


DASUAYOOD    I'UIOUV.  159 

a  little  cold?  What  did  you  meiui  by  trifling 
about  your  laziucr^s  ?  Oh,  Ycrnou !  if  you  are  so 
ill,  how  you  have  been  dcceiviug  us  !  aud  why  ?  '' 

"  I  have  told  heaps  of  lies,  I  fear,"  replied 
Vernon,  siirhing  deeply ;  '•'  but  I  hope  they  will  bo 
forgiven :  they  were  ou  a  great  emergeucy  to  ease 
myself  and  those  so  dear  to  me,  and  to  whom  I 
am  so  dear.  I  persuaded  myself  it  was  the  case. 
I  would  if  I  could.  Don't  look  so  grave;  your 
favourite  David  did  the  same  in  danger." 

"  And  the  consequence  was  the  destruction  of 
a  number  of  innocent  persons.  It  ought  not  to 
be  excused,  dear  Vernon,  and  you  of  all  people." 

"  Well,  no  more  of  that,"  sjud  Vernon,  im- 
patiently ;  "  nobody  calls  excuses  and  evasions, 
lies.  God  knows,  there  was  reason  enough.  Well, 
here  is  my  story.  I  believe  the  mischief  was 
principally  done  at  Torquay,  the  last  night  I  was 
there ;  but  I  would  not  bcUeve  anything  was  the 
matter,  because  my  time  was  so  viduable.  After 
I  returned  to  Cambridge  I  was  not  well,  and  ex- 
amining for  my  degree  did  not  improve  it;  but  I 
got  on  till  Easter  somehow,  and  then  the  rest  and 
change  did  me  so  much  good,  that  I  thought  my- 
self quite  well,  in  spite  of  the  cough.  You  know, 
Reginald,  I  was  used  to  the  cough  by  that  time. 
However,  it  was  very  bad  sometimes,  especially  in 
the  morning.  I  used  to  resolve  to  have  advice  in 
the  morning,  and  think  myself  quite  well  at  night ; 
and  so  it  went  on  till  the  summer  carac,  wiicn  1 
irot  wondcrfullv  well.     Then    the   Mediterrancau 


ICO  n.VSHWOOD    I'lUOHY. 

^\  as  advised,  and  I  expected  to  be  set  up,  and  so 
I  was,  partially;  this  terrible  cough  had  nearly 
ceased,  and  all  went  on  pretty  well  till  about  a 
month  ago.  I  Avas  coming  home,  but  I  was  laid 
up  a  fortnight  at  Brighton.  Happily  I  told  no 
one  I  was  coming,  so  no  one  knew.  St.  John 
thought  me  at  home,  and  they  at  home  thought 
me  on  board  ship.'' 

"  Did  you  not  have  advice  ?  " 

"  To  be  sure,  and  got  well  again,  and  was 
advised  to  go  to  sea  again  to  Madeira;  but  he 
was  very  encouraging,  saw  no  danger,  ct  cetera. 
Of  course  I  did  not  care  about  Madeira,  and  I 
went  to  the  Isle  of  Wight  for  ten  days,  and  then 
came  here,  much  better  I  hoped — much  better — 
but  here  I  am  nearly  as  low  and  weak  as  ever. 
My  father  insists  upon  my  seeing  Dr.  Macey,  and 
I  dread  to  see  him." 

"  But  I  don't  see  why,  if  your  Brighton  man 
was  so  hopeful." 

Yernon  sighed. 

"  I  wished  to  believe  him.  I  did  believe  him, 
Reginald ;  but  yet  something  continual!}'  checked 
that ;  and  yet  I  have  been  very  sanguine,  not 
alarmed  enough  at  any  time.  I  am  better  now," 
he  added,  sitting  up.  "  Perhaps,  after  all,  my  fears 
arc  mere  lowness  of  spirits;  I  am  not  generally 
troubled  that  way." 

"  I  think  so  still,"  said  llcginald,  cheerfully  ; 
"  and  let  me  order  you  something  to  cat :  you  will 
be  better  then,  and  all  these  fancies  Avill  fly  away." 


DASHAVOOD    PRIORY.  iCl 

"  Promise  me  you  ^^111  say  nothing  about  this 
till  after  to-morrow/'  said  Ycrnon.  "^^My  father 
would  put  off  the  festivities,  and  so  many  will  be 
disappointed.  It  must  not  be,  Reginald;  they 
will  do  me  good — a  little  excitement  does." 

"  But  if  you  are  ill,  Vernon  ?" 

"  But  I  am  not,"  said  Vernon,  eagerly ;  "  not 
ill  enough,  at  least.  I  have  been  making  a  fool  of 
myself.  You  must  promise,  Reginald,  not  to  pre- 
vent the  ftte,  for  my  sake.  Remember,  this  was 
in  confidence." 

Reginald  gave  a  reluctant  consent,  just  as 
Dr.  Macey  was  announced.  At  the  mention  of  his 
name,  Vernon  coloured,  and  then  turned  pale ;  but 
he  commanded  himself  well,  and  after  a  few  re- 
marks, begged  Reginald  to  leave  him  alone  for  a 
few  minutes.  Reginald  retired  to  the  adjoining 
room;  but  the  few  minutes  were  lengthened  to 
half  an  hour,  and  when  Dr.  IMaccy  left  the  room, 
Reginald  arrested  him  at  the  door  with  a  trembling 
"  How  is  he  ?  " 

Dr.  !Macey's  manner  was  exceedingly  agitated ; 
he  could  hardly  say, — 

"  He  cannot  live  many  months,  Mr.  Mortimer  ; 
the  disease  has  made  ground  fearfully.  Go  to 
him,— keep  liim  up.  Oh,  that  that  fine  young 
man  should  be  taken  !  Poor  fellow  !  —  he  has 
been  sadly  careless  of  himself ;  but  it  is  the  way 
of  them  all." 

Reginald  possessed  much  strength  of  mind  ; 
but  lie  needed   all,    as    ho    mcchanicrdly    obeyod 


162  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

Dr.  Macey,  who  hastened  down  stairs  and  out  of 
the  house^  without  asking  to  see  Lady  Digby. 

Ternon  was  Ipng  full  length  on  the  bed  ;  his 
coat  and  waistcoat  were  on  the  floor  beside  it, 
and  both  his  arms  were  laid  across  his  eyes.  He 
did  not  move  when  Reginald  entered ;  but,  as  he 
approached  the  bed,  he  said,  in  a  low  muffled 
voice,  "Leave  me  alone  now.  I  must  be  quite 
alone,  Reginald, — quite  alone  for  a  little  while.^' 

Reginald  could  hardly  speak ;  but  he  mustered 
his  emotion  sufficiently  to  say  gently,  "  You  are 
not  fit  to  be  alone,  dearest  Vernon." 

"I  am,'^  replied  Vernon,  suddenly  sitting  up 
in  the  bed,  and  displaying  slight  traces  of  tears 
on  his  white  haggard  countenance.  "  I  must  pass 
alone  soon ;  no  comfort  can  reach  me  there. 
Reginald;  I  made  him  tell  me  all;  he  speaks  the 
truth ;  I  knew  he  would,  and  therefore  I  dreaded 
this  visit.  Oh,  my  God  !  ^^  he  added,  clasping  his 
hands,  and  looking  out  on  the  fair  view  visible 
from  the  window  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  "  to  leave 
this, — can  it  be  ? — with  all  youth's  dreams  unful- 
filled.    It  is  impossible  ! '' 

"  Dear,  dear  ^"ernon,  calm  yourself,"  said  poor 
Reginald.  He  hardly  knew  what  to  say;  a  burst 
of  bitter  tears  seemed  almost  necessary  to  himself. 

Vernon  sat  a  moment  or  two  in  the  same  atti- 
tude without  moving. 

"  This  is  unmanly,  Reginald,"  he  said,  at  length, 
getting  off  the  bed, — "  this  is  most  unworthy  of  a 
man  J  but  sickness  has  unnerved  me." 


DASUWOOD    PllIORY.  163 

"Lie  down,  dearest  Vernon/'  said  Regiiiald, 
gently  taking  his  hand,  "  I  will  fetch  aunt 
Beatrice/' 

"  That  you  must  not,  Reginald ;  she  must  not 
know  it  yet ;  the  children  and  tenants  must  have 
their  day ;  I  can  hold  out  well ;  I  shall  be  well 
to-morrow.  Say  nothing,  Reginald,"  he  con- 
tinued, passionately,  "  I  must  have  this  satisfac- 
tion. You  have  no  idea  how  much  better  I  am  from 
day  to  day ;  my  illness  has  been  too  deceitfully 
variable  throughout.  Dr.  Macey  will  be  one  of 
the  company  to-morrow,  and  will  look  after  me. 
He  has  promised  to  evade  the  matter  till  the 
twenty-fourth ;  and  I, — I  shall  humour  him  b}-- 
wearing  a  blister  to-niglit.  But  what  does  it 
matter?  a  dying  patient  may  be  humoured.  For- 
give me,  Reginald,"  he  added,  after  a  slight  pause, 
"  illness  makes  me  petulant ;  you  should  have  left 
mc  alone." 

Reginald  laid  his  hand  very  tenderly  on  his  arm. 

"  Come,  lie  down,  my  dear  Vernon ;  I  will  pro- 
mise anything,  if  you  will  rest." 

"  Promise  me  that ;  or,  rather,  remember  your 
previous  promise,  and  I  will  do  anything.     I  will 
take  care  of  myself,"  said  Vernon,  throwing  him 
self  again  on  the  bed,  and  again  sitting  up. 

"  Oh,  Reginald !  Aristotle  and  Plato  will  not 
hclj)  us  much  here.  Oh,  Reginald  !  philosophy 
will  not  do.  '  How  dieth  the  wise  man,  even  as 
the  fool !  Surely  I  have  spent  my  days  for 
nought ! ' " 

M  2 


164  DAsnvrooD  piuory. 

"  Look  above,  dear  Vernon/'  said  Reginald, 
in  a  clicking  voice;  "  Jesus  "will  helj}.  He  alone 
can  soothe  the  dying  bed.  His  entire  righteous- 
ness can  save  the  sinner.  His  finished  work  is 
enough  even  for  the  chief  of  sinners.'' 

"  Ay/'  said  Vernon,  bitterly ;  "  but  I  don't  feel 
myself  a  sinner.  How  would  you  have  me  come 
and  ask  a  favour — and  such  a  favour — in  a  last 
extremity,  of  one  whom  I  have  shghted  or  despised 
all  my  life  ?  I  cannot,  Reginald ;  I  am,  at  least,  no 
hypocrite  ;  religion  has,  as  yet,  had  no  charms  for 
me ;  and  should  I  not  despise  myself,  and  doubt 
my  own  sincerity,  if  I  should  seek  it  now,  when 
nothing  else  can  charm  or  help  me  ?  God  is  too 
great  to  be  trifled  with,  Reginald." 

"  He  is  LOVE,  Vernon,"  said  Reginald,  earnestly. 
"  '  Him  that  cometh  to  Me  I  Avill  in  no  wise  cast 
out.'  " 

"  But  if  I  Avere  in  health,  Reginald,  or  likely  to 
live,  I  should  not  wish  to  come  to  Him ;  and  is  it 
not  cowardice  to  desire  it  now  ?  " 

"  Cowardice  !  dear  Vernon  ?  Coivardice  to  ac- 
knowledge His  greatness  ? — that  He  is  God,  and 
not  man,  therefore  He  will  have  mercy  even  in 
the  eleventh  hour.  I  do  not  know  how  to  speak 
to  you,  my  dear  cousin ;  it  is  adding  sin  to  sin  to 
doubt  Christ's  mercy,  and  to  stand  aloof  in  pride. 
Is  it  not  something  like  the  Israelites :  '  Thou 
saidst  there  is  no  hope ;  no,  for  I  have  loved 
strangers,  and  after  them  will  I  go  ? '  Pray,  dear 
Vernon;  He  will  give  you  all  the  feelings  you 


DASH  WOOD    PRIORY.  1G5 

want  as  well  as  the  gifts.  Pray,  dear  Vernon ;  it 
will  do  vou  more  good  than  anything  I  can  say. 
^lake  your  requests  for  Christ's  sake ;  there  is  a 
plea  at  once.  You  are  too  sinful  to  ask;  but 
Christ  is  all  holiness  ;  in  Ilim  the  Father  is  '  well 
pleased.' " 

"  Pmii !"  said  Vernon,  bitterly ;  "  I,  who  tumble 
into  bed  every  night,  and  go  about  my  business 
every  morning  without  a  prayer?  "\\  ill  He  not 
laugh  at  my  calamity  ?  He  will  not  hear  me.  I 
must  eat  the  fruit  of  my  own  way,  Reginald. 
Tell  me  nothing  more  now,  at  least ;  I  cannot 
bear  anything  now.  I  can  give  myself  chapter 
and  verse  for  every  doubt.  I  know  the  Bible 
better  than  you  do,  and  I  remember  it, — indeed, 
I  remember  much  of  it  now.  Leave  me,  ray 
dearest  Reginald,  I  want  quiet, — I  want  quiet ;  I 
have  gone  through  much  to-day." 

Reginald  obeyed  the  eager,  craving  command. 
But  \'ernon  called  him  back  again  to  request  he 
would  not  go  near  his  mother,  nor  let  it  be  known 
that  tlicy  had  returned  from  their  walk. 

"  Have  some  lunch  upstairs,  Reginald  ;  you 
have  had  nothing  to  eat  yet.  I  shall  be  down  at 
dinner.    How  thoughtless  I  have  been  about  you  !" 

Reginald  acquiesced,  and  sadly  returned  to  his 
own  room. 

Full  tlu-ce  hours  elapsed  before  he  was  again 
summoned,  and  it  was  nearly  seven  o'clock  when 
lie  re-entered  his  cousin's  room.  ^  ernon  waa 
now  quite  calm  and  collected,  and  spoke  witii  his 


166  DASHWOOD    PRIOKY. 

usual  clieerfulness  to  Reginald^  asking  his  assist- 
ance to  help  him  on  with  his  coat. 

"  Basire  has  just  dressed  me,  but  I  wanted  to 
see  you;  I  dismissed  him,  thinking  you  would 
help  me.  I  have  a  shght  impediment  in  the 
shape  of  a  blister  between  the  shoulders.  It  is 
not  very  troublesome  now  :  I  put  it  on  as  soon  as 
it  arrived,  that  the  business  might  be  over  early 
to-morrow,  I  look  pretty  well,  I  think,  now,"  he 
said,  smiling.  "  Now,  if  you  are  dressed,  we  will 
go  down.'' 

Reginald  did  not  dare  to  dispute  his  wishes,  for 
fear  of  exciting  him,  and  they  descended  to  the 
drawing-room.  Though  they  had  timed  their 
descent  only  a  few  minutes  before  dinner,  there 
was  time  enough  to  receive  many  questions,  and 
to  be  obhged  to  parry  some,  on  their  morning's 
walk.  Sick  at  heart,  Reginald  could  not  assume 
the  animation  of  his  cousin ;  and  knowing  little 
of  his  disease,  he  wondered  at  the  astonishing 
cessation  of  his  cough,  the  beauty  of  his  colour, 
and  the  fire  of  his  eyes  that  evening.  He  did  not 
dance,  nor  join  the  musical  eftbrts  after  dinner, 
but  all  that  struck  any  one  was  that  he  seemed  a 
little  tired. 

Lady  Digby  stopped  him  at  night  to  ask 
whether  Dr.  Macey  had  been,  and  what  was  his 
report;  and  received  a  careless  answer,  though 
the  question  rent  his  heart. 

"  Just  as  I  expected.  You  will  see  him,  I  dare 
say,  on  Friday,  and  you  can  ask  him  all.     He 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  167 

thinks  I  want  care,  mother/'  he  added,  more 
gravely;  "and  I  am  going  to  be  very  good,  I 
assure  you.'' 

"  I  wish  we  had  put  off  your  birthday,  dear," 
said  his  mother,  anxiously. 

"  I  don't,"  said  Vernon.  "  It  would  be  a  great 
disappointment  to  me.  Have  not  I  been  looking 
forward  to  it  for  eighteen  years?  Good  night, 
dearest  mother." 

"  He  does  not  look  ill  to-night,  though,"  said 
Lady  Digby  to  herself  as  he  went,  yet  she  sighed 
very  deeply. 


168  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

"  By  grace  ye  are  saved,  through  faith  ;  and  that  not  of  youi"- 
selves  :  it  is  the  gift  of  God." — Ephes.  ii.  8. 

"  Eememher  now  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth,  while 
the  evil  days  come  not." — Eccles.  xii.  1. 

Basire  slept  in  the  same  room  with  his  master, 
and  the  blister  was  attended  to  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, full  an  hour  before  a  band  of  music,  simul- 
taneously with  the  fine  peal  of  church-bells, 
struck  up  under  Vernon's  window.  He  was 
much  relieved ;  his  cough  had  been  better  during 
the  night,  and  the  fever  was  considerably  abated. 
Forgetting  his  invalid  condition,  and  the  caution 
of  his  medical  man  concerning  the  morning  and 
evening  air,  he  threw  on  his  dressing-gown  with 
his  usual  impetuosity,  and  hurried  to  the  window 
to  acknowledge  the  early  salutation.  Basire  was 
on  the  watch,  knowing  but  too  many  instances  of 
his  master's  imprudence,  and  as  Vernon's  hand 
was  on  the  latch  of  the  large  casement,  he  rushed 
forward  and  respectfully  interfered. 

"  Monsieur,  le  brouillard.  Rappelez-vous  Mon- 
sieur le  docteur  ?" 

But  Vernon's  enthusiasm  and  self-will  both 
rebelled:  he  struggled;  the  poor  valet,  firm  to 
the  injunctions  he  had  received  from  Reginald 


D.VSHWOOD    PRIORY.  IGO 

and  Dr.  !Macey,  still  persisted  in  his  "well-meant 
resistance,  only  adding  exasperation  to  his  deter- 
mination. Vernon's  anger  gave  him  a  fictitious 
strength  ;  he  pushed  the  man  aside,  and  burst  the 
■window  open  in  triumph.  It  was  but  a  short 
triumpli.  An  exclamation  from  him  called  the 
valet  once  more  to  his  side ;  a  short  cough 
and  a  gush  of  blood  from  the  mouth  announced  a 
broken  blood-vessel.  The  poor  young  man  was 
sobered  and  alarmed ;  he  staggered  to  the  nearest 
chair,  and  endeavoured  to  stanch  the  bleeding 
with  his  handkerchief.  The  alarmed  servant  rang 
the  bell  violently,  but  before  he  could  reach 
Vernon,  the  great  exhaustion  attendant  on  the 
hemorrhage  had  laid  him  prostrate.  Reginald 
was  the  first  who  entered,  and  he  assisted  Basire 
to  lay  his  fainting  cousin  on  the  bed,  and  then 
sent  him  for  a  doctor. 

It  was  not  long  before  other  members  of  the 
family  poured  in,  for  Basire  had  spread  the  news 
as  he  ran.  Sir  Francis,  Lady  Digby,  and  Sir 
George  were  there  almost  immediately,  in  agony. 
"What  could  they  do  ?  It  was  a  sight  for  the 
birthday  morning.  All  thought  him  dying.  He 
had  not  moved  after  he  was  laid  on  the  bed  :  the 
stained  dressing-gown  and  pillow,  the  white,  white 
face,  the  closed  eyes,  and  the  slow  drops  oozing 
from  his  half-open  mouth,  all  told  the  sad  talc. 
After  the  first  alarm,  and  the  consequent  inde- 
scribable confusion,  had  a  little  subsided,  they  all 
looked  on  in  silence.     Sir  Francis  raised  his  head, 


170  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

and  Lady  Digby  gave  him  a  little  water ;  Reginald 
made  a  way  among  the  attendant  crowd  that  the 
air  from  the  still  open  window  might  fan  him. 
There  it  came,  and  borne  along  on  it  came  the 
music  of  the  merry  bells  in  honour  of  the  dying 
youth.  Sir  Francis  looked  distractedly  from  his 
dear  son,  and  laying  his  head  on  the  pillow, 
exclaimed, — 

"  Stop  those  bells  !    Some  one  go,  quick  ! " 
There  v/as  no  lack  of  messengers,  and  a  few 
minutes  after,  one  burst  into  the  belfry  with  the 
appalling  news — 

"  Mr.  Vernon's  dying !  Stop  the  bells." 
Everything  was  arrested  hurriedly  ;  each  guest 
ere  he  had  left  his  chamber  knew  the  sad  tale, 
and  in  the  course  of  the  day  all  but  the  imme- 
diate relations  of  the  family  had  left  the  castle. 
The  village  doctor  arrived  shortly,  and  about  two 
hours  after  Dr.  Macey,  when  the  object  of  their 
solicitude  was  a  little  revived.  But  he  lay  little 
removed  from  insensibility  all  the  day,  constantly 
attended  by  his  parents,  Dr.  Macey,  and  Mrs. 
Mortimer,  who  knew  more  of  nursing  than  her 
sister.  Sir  George,  too,  would  not  be  forbidden 
the  room :  he  stood  the  picture  of  woe  at  the  foot 
of  the  bed,  very  quietly  watching  all  that  was 
done  for  him,  once  or  twice  saying,  in  a  low  tone, 
"  Poor  fellow,  I  was  angry  with  him  yesterday." 

Ah !  at  such  times  how  bitter  is  the  remem- 
brance of  an  angry  thought !  Though  Sir  George 
had  some   cause  for  his  auger,  his   was  bitter; 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY,  171 

and  how  much  more  when  the  anger  is  without 
a  cause  ! 

There  was  a  slight  improvement  towards  the 
end  of  the  day,  and  the  next  still  more.  He  was 
not  allowed  to  speak,  and  he  made  no  effort  to  do 
so.  He  fixed  his  eyes,  from  time  to  time,  upon 
one  or  the  other  of  his  attendants :  at  times  there 
was  an  intensity  of  aficctionate  gratitude  in  the 
gaze,  but  generally  it  was  one  of  settled  melan- 
choly. Earnest  were  the  prayers  offered  for  him, 
imd  no  opportunity  was  lost  of  repeating  texts 
from  the  Bible  to  him,  but  he  seemed  not  to 
notice  them,  either  too  weak  to  comprehend  or 
too  indifferent.  One  morning  he  looked  anxiously 
around  from  one  to  the  other.  Mrs.  Mortimer, 
Lady  Digby,  and  Sir  George  were  all  in  the  room, 
and  as  each  in  turn  came  to  the  bedside  he  sHghtly 
shook  his  head.  At  last  by  a  great  effort  he  said, 
"  Louis." 

Louis  had  been  so  much  overcome,  that  his 
mother  had  not  allowed  him  to  see  Vernon  often 
since  the  birthday ;  he  was  soon  summoned  now, 
and  immediately  appeared.  Vernon  smiled  sadly, 
and  taking  his  hand,  signed  him  to  stoop  down  to 
him.  When  Louis  Avas  near  enough  to  hear,  he 
said,  in  the  low  whisper  in  which  lie  had  spoken 
since  the  fatal  morning,  "Tell  me  sonicthiug, 
Louis;  tell  me  something.  The  Bible,  Louis — 
all  is  dark." 

Louis  felt  such  a  sensation  of  choking  in  his 
throat,  that  at  first  he  could  hardly  comply.     He 


173  DASH  WOOD    PRIORY. 

sent  up  a  heartfelt  prayer  for  guidance  and 
strength,  and  then  gradually  gaining  power  as  he 
proceeded^  repeated  passage  after  passage  from  the 
Sacred  AVord  to  his  poor  cousin,  whose  eager  eyes 
were  fixed  on  him  as  if  he  would  drink  in  all  he 
could  say.  At  length  he  paused,  after  concluding 
a  passage  from  the  fifteenth  of  the  first  Epistle  to 
the  Corinthians. 

Vernon  looked  unsatisfied,  and  pulled  him 
down  again. 

"  There  is  nothing,"  he  whispered.  "  O  Louis, 
the  heavens  ahove  are  as  brass  !  I  cannot  believe, 
I  cannot  feel." 

" '  Faith  is  the  gift  of  God,'  dear  Vernon." 

''  Too  late,"  murmured  Vernon. 

"No,  no.  It  is  yet  the  accepted  time,  dear 
cousin.     Pray,  dear  Vernon ;  pray." 

Vernon  shook  his  head,  and  Earned  away  from 
Louis. 

"  Remember  the  labourers  of  the  eleventh 
hour,"  urged  Louis. 

"  They  laboured  ;  I  cannot,"  said  Vernon. 

"  We  are  not  saved  by  works,  Vernon.  *  By 
grace  ye  are  saved.'  " 

" '  Through  faith,'  "  murmured  Vernon :  "  I 
have  none." 

" '  Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to 
the  waters ;  and  he  that  hath  no  money,  come  ! ' " 
repeated  Louis. 

Vernon  shook  his  head  again,  and  restlessly 
moved  his  hands. 


DASH  WOOD  pnioKY.  173 

"Remember  the  dying  thief ;'^  and  Louis 
repeated,  with  a  faltering  voice,  Cowper's  beau- 
tiful hymn, — 

"There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood." 

To  his  great  alarm,  Vernon  raised  himself  in 
bed  for  a  minute,  and  said,  in  a  voice  just 
distinct  enough  to  be  beyond  a  whisper, — 

"  It  is  like  oft'ering  the  blind  and  lame  for 
sacrifice,  to  give  myself  to  God  now — now  !" 

lie  sank  down  exhausted,  and  Louis  was 
obliged  to  recall  his  nurses  from  the  adjoining 
room,  whither  they  had  retired  to  leave  him  alone 
M-ith  the  invalid.  They  dared  not  allow  the  con- 
versation to  be  renewed.  Vernon  made  no  allusion 
to  what  had  passed,  when  alone  with  his  mother 
and  aunt ;  but  his  poor  mother  knew  the  anguish 
of  spirit  which  those  beseeching  eyes  betrayed, 
lie  was  too  weak  to  affect  disguise,  and  lie  looked, 
now  and  then,  from  one  to  the  other  as  if  he 
would  say,  "Give  me  some  comfort;"  and  they 
could  not  give  it.  It  was  a  great  relief  when  he 
sank  into  a  heavy  slumber,  which  lasted  some 
time.  When  he  awoke  he  asked  for  Louis,  and 
for  the  next  day  or  two  seemed  hardly  comfortable 
when  he  was  out  of  sight ;  though,  with  his  usual 
consideration  for  others,  he  would  not  allow  him 
to  be  constantly  in  his  room.  Tliey  were  often 
left  alone  for  a  short  time,  when  it  was  found 
Louis  was  so  precious,  and  Vernon  made  him 
pray  aloud,  and  would  sometimes  put  his  tliin 
hand  into  his  cousin's,   as  if  Ix'   wished  to  make 


174  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

the  words  his   own,   but   he    seldom  made  any 
remark. 

One  day,  about  a  week  after  the  breaking  of 
the  blood-vessel,  when  Reginald  and  Lady  Digby 
were  with  him,  and  he  appeared  to  be  sleeping, 
he  suddenly  opened  his  eyes,  as  if  some  vision  of 
brightness  had  passed  them.  He  clasped  his 
hands,  and  murmured, — 

"  '  The  Lord  rebuke  thee,  O  Satan ;  is  not  this 
a  brand  plucked  from  the  burning?'  " 

His  attendants  listened  with  trembling  joy. 
Reginald  rose,  and  stood  looking  at  him ;  but  he 
closed  his  eyes  again,  and  seemed  lost  in  contem- 
plation, his  lips  occasionally  moving.  Presently 
he  looked  steadily  at  Reginald,  and  said  dis- 
tinctly,— 

" '  And  he  said  unto  them  that  stood  by.  Take 
the  filthy  garments  from  him.' " 

"  His  mind  is  wandering,"  said  Mrs.  ]Mortimer, 
as  she  watched  the  vacant  expression  of  his  gaze. 
"  "Who  is  that,  Vernon  ?  " 

" '  I  will  praise  Thy  name,  because  Thou  hast 
done  it,' "  said  Vernon  again.  There  was  some- 
thing very  solemn  in  the  words  uttered  by  the 
small  weak  voice,  while  the  speaker  seemed  so  im- 
conscious  of  the  realities  around  him ;  he  seemed 
to  try  to  collect  himself :  "  That  Aunt — Reginald 
— Aunt.  Dear  mother,  you  know  the  cup  of  cold 
water.     What  a  comfort  Louis  has  been  to  me !  " 

"  My  darling,"  said  his  mother,  "  are  you  rest- 
ing on  your  Saviour  ?  are  you  able  ?  " 


DASUWOOD    rillOllY.  175 

The  question  did  not  seem  to  reacli  him  in  its 
full  meaning,  for  the  mind  seemed  partially  dis- 
turbed. Presently  he  said,  "  Jesus,  iMastcr,  have 
mercy  upon  me  !  God  has  been  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner.     Oh,  wonderful  love  !  " 

They  stood  around  in  mingled  dread  and  grati- 
tude, and  in  a  little  while  he  roused  himself  more 
perfectly,  and  spoke  Avith  more  strength. 

"  Dearest  mother  !  dear  aunt !  how  long  you 
have  been  watching  a  poor  self-willed  sinner !  I 
want  to  see  my  father,  and  poor  grandfather. 
Every  one,  mother.  There's  a  strange  feeling  in 
my  head ;  but  I  am  not  alarmed,''  he  added 
calmly. 

It  was  not  long  before  Sir  George  and  Sij 
Francis,  with  some  of  the  elder  members' of  tlic 
family,  arrived.  Vernon  held  out  his  hands  to 
them,  and  looked  unutterable  affection  at  his 
father. 

"  Forgive  all  my  petulance,  dear  father — dear 
grandfather.  I  have  caused  you  much  sorrow,  all 
by  my  self-will,  and  I  have  suffered  much;  but 
that  is  gone.  Louis ! "  The  strange  wild  ex- 
pression passed  over  his  face,  and,  apparently  un- 
conscious of  his  weakness,  he  made  a  great  effort 
to  collect  his  thoughts,  and  thanked  thciu  all  for 
their  kindness. 

"  I  have  an  humble  hope. — Oh,  all  remember, 
seek  (iod  before  the  evil  days  come." 

He  attempted  to  speak  again,  but  ins  spi-cfh 
grew  incoherent,  and  after  anollu'i  vain  cH'ort,  he 


176  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

closed  his  eyes  for  sleep,  as  tliougli  no  one  were 
present.  Sir  Francis  knelt  in  speechless  grief  at 
the  head  of  the  bed,  and  took  the  small  passive 
hand  again.  Mr.  Mortimer,  inviting  all  present 
to  join,  commended  the  dying  youth  to  his  God, 
thanking  him  for  the  peace  they  trusted  he  had 
found  at  last.  It  M'as  very  solemn,  but  joy  was 
even  in  the  midst,  among  those  who  had  longed 
for  his  soul's  safety.  Before  the  prayer  was  con- 
cluded, Vernon,  who  had  appeared  quite  uncon- 
scious, was  in  a  sweet  slumber.  It  lasted  for 
several  hours.  He  woke  towards  midnight,  and 
asked  for  some  water,  but  there  was  no  recogni- 
tion of  the  presence  of  his  relations.  His  wan- 
dering mind  strayed  on  the  passages  that  had 
come  upon  him  with  the  dawn  of  light,  in  his  last 
hours.    As  he  finished  the  water,  he  murmured — 

"They  set  a  fair  mitre  on  his  head.  Lead  me 
to  living  fountains — the  Lamb  shall  do  that.  If 
thou  knewcst  the  gift  of  God.  Mother,  the  gift 
of  God  is  eternal  life  ! " 

His  unwearied  watchers  caught  many  disjointed 
fragments  of  texts;  but  he  sank  to  sleep  again 
without  any  consciousness  of  their  attention,  and 
in  that  long  sleep  of  many  hours,  his  spirit  passed 
away. 

We  will  not  lightly  touch  on  their  grief.  It 
was  not  sorroAV  without  hope,  and  it  left  abiding 
impressions.  Sir  Francis  did  not  soon  forget  his 
beloved  son's  last  words,  and  when  the  first  bit- 
terness of  his  lieavy  grief  was  over,  he  sought 


DASH  WOOD    PIUORY.  177 

earnestly  to  lead  his  liouseholfl  more  in  the  fear 
of  God  tlian  he  had  ever  thought  necessary.  One 
strong  tie  that  bound  him  to  earth  was  removed, 
and  in  after-years  he  blessed  the  Hand  that  had 
taken  his  idol. 

Young  reader,  remember  xow  thy  Creator  in 
the  days  of  thy  youth,  before  the  evil  days  draAv 
nigh.  The  evil  day  may  be  sudden — there  may 
be  no  time  to  call,  "  God  be  merciful  to  me  !  "  In 
that  dread  hour  of  darkness  and  dismay,  what  can 
support  the  trembling  sinner,  but  the  blood  of 
Jesus?  It  has  been  justly  observed,  "The  Bible 
gives  one  instance  of  death-bed  repentance,  that 
none  may  despair;  and  but  one,  that  none  may 
presume.  You  cannot  believe  of  your  own  will. 
This  is  '  the  gift  of  God.^  If  you  refuse  Him 
that  speakcth  now,  oftcring  you  that  gift,  He  may 
refuse  it  to  you  in  your  hour  of  need.  Strive  to 
enter  in  at  the  strait  gate ;  for  many  shall  seek 
to  enter,  and  shall  not  be  able,  when  once  the 
Master  of  the  house  hath  shut  to  the  door." 


178  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

"  When  now  mature  in  classic  knowledge, 
The  joyful  youth  is  sent  to  college." 

/.  Warion. 

Months  rolled  away.  Arthur  Digby  had  passed 
his  final  examination,  and  taken  honours, — infe- 
rior, indeed,  to  those  of  his  brother,  but  the  more 
honourable  to  him,  as  he  belonged  to  a  college 
which  had  the  unenviable  reputation  of  doing 
little.  Meredith  and  Reginald  pursued  their 
studies  with  a  moderate  degree  of  application; 
and  Frank,  after  drawing  on  himself  censure  in 
various  ways  for  a  few  terras,  concluded  his  career 
at  Cambridge,  by  being  presented  "with  a  liceat 
migrare,  in  consequence  of  a  practical  joke  played 
off  on  one  of  the  dons. 

Arthur  Digby^s  twenty-first  birthday  passed 
quietly,  the  festivities  being  confined  solely  to 
the  tenantry,  the  family  leaving  the  castle  for  a 
month,  and  spending  the  Christmas  season  quietly 
at  a  small  watering-place.  When  it  was  decided 
that  Louis'  health  was  sufficiently  estabHshed, 
and  that  he  had  attained  a  sufficiently  mature  age 
to  brave  the  fatigues  and  fascinations  of  the  uni- 
versity, the  grand  difficulty  to  be  settled  was 
where  he  was  to  be  placed.     Mr.  Mortimer  had 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  179 

hitherto,  for  many  reasons,  given  the  preference 
to  Cambridge,  though  retaining  a  natiu'al  yearn- 
ing for  Oxford,  which  was  his  own  university. 
Many  of  Reginald's  friends  and  relations  were  at 
Cambridge,  and  its  vicinity  to  Dashwood  rendered 
it  the  more  desirable  for  his  eldest  son,  especially 
as  Mr.  Mortimer  dreaded  the  baneful  effects  of  the 
doctrine  promulgated  at  Oxford.  Yet,  although 
the  latter  reason  would  seem  to  hold  good  more 
in  Louis*  case  than  Reginald's,  Louis'  tastes  and 
acquirements  pointed  to  Oxford  as  the  university 
best  calculated  to  call  them  forth ;  and  as  Regi- 
nald had  already  passed  half  his  time,  there  was 
less  inducement  to  place  him  with  his  brother ; 
whereas  Hamilton  and  many  of  Louis'  school- 
fellows were  at  Oxford.  Finally,  as  Louis'  own 
wishes  all  went  south,  INIr.  ^Mortimer  decided  on 
gratifying  hira  ;  and  his  father's  old  college  being 
chosen,  his  name  was  placed  on  the  books. 

The  summer  that  saw  his  nineteenth  year  com- 
pleted was  destined  for  his  matriculation  ;  and  his 
father  availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  afforded 
by  a  long-promised  visit  to  an  old  friend  near 
Oxford,   and  took   Louis  up  with   him.     A  few 

days  after  their  arrival  at House,  they  set 

off  in  an  open  carriage  to  the  renowned  city^ 
which  was  ten  miles  distant. 

"  Oh,  father  !  "  exclaimed  Louis,  as  they  drew 

near  tlic  end  of  their  journey,  and  were  entering 

Oxford  by  the  London  road, — "  Oh,  father  !   what 

a  beautiful  [)lacc  it  is  !     Tell  me,  cuu  I  sec  ray 

N  2 


180  DASHWOOD    PRIOEY. 

college  ?  What  towers  are  those  ?  —  and  that 
dome  ?  It  is  far  more  beautiful  than  Cambridge. 
It  seems  as  full  of  trees  as  Norwich ;  but  Norwich 
cannot  boast  those  towers  and  that  dome/' 

Mr.  Mortimer  was  very  ready  to  explain  all  his 
son  desired,  and  was  in  the  midst  of  the  informa- 
tion as  to  which  was  the  RadclyfiPe  Library,  which 
All  Souls,  and  which  Christ  Church,  when  a  sweep 
of  the  road  materially  altered  their  view,  and, 
passing  Maudlen  Bridge,  they  Avere  driving  up 
High-street  at  a  rapid  rate.  Here  Louis  Avas  so 
entranced,  that  he  forgot  to  speak ;  and  it  was 
not  till  he  was  fairly  set  doAvn  at  the  "  Mitre " 
that  he  expressed  to  his  father  his  conviction  that 
he  had  never  seen  so  beautiful  a  street,  and  that 
Oxford  far  exceeded  all  his  expectations. 

Freshmen  !  ye  will  excuse  the  many  bewilder- 
ing sensations, — the  sort  of  rapturous  awe, — the 
feeling  of  conscious  dignity,  that  he  was  to  belong 
to  that  city,  to  make  one  of  its  numerous  gowns- 
men, whom  he  now  thought  of  as  almost  superior 
beings.  At  any  rate,  I  may  be  excused  for  sup- 
posing that  a  youth  of  nineteen  had  not  risen 
quite  superior  to  them. 

"  Well,  Louis,"  said  his  father,  when  he  had 
given  his  directions  respecting  the  carriage,  "  now 
to  business.  We  have  much  before  us ;  and,  first, 
we  must  find  out  my  old  friend,  your  future  tutor, 
Louis." 

Louis  was  standing  an  intent  spectator  of  the 
passers-by. 


DASH  WOOD    riuoiiY.  181 

"  Fatlicr,  I  believe  I  saw  Trevannion  just  now  ; 
and,  look;  surely  that  is  Charles  Clifton." 

He  was  about  to  dart  after  the  retreating 
figure,  when  it  suddenly  disappeared ;  where,  he 
was  not  quite  certain,  for  he  was  at  some  distance 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  way. 

"  Come,  I  cannot  afford  time  for  chases  after 
your  schoolfellows  now/'  said  his  father.  "  Come 
along.'' 

A  few  minutes'  walk   brought  them  to  

College,  and  here  they  repaired  to  the  tutor's 
rooms.  !Mr.  !Mortiraer  was  warmly  welcomed  by 
his  old  friend,  to  whom  Louis  was,  of  course,  duly 
introduced.  Shall  we  be  allowed  to  say  that  his 
feelings  on  this  introduction  were  of  a  very  similar 
description  to  those  Avhich  possessed  him  in  the 
ancient  days  of  his  boyhood,  when  set  down  at 
the  door  of  Ashfield  House ;  but  his  inexperienced 
imagination  on  the  subject  of  college  authorities 
was  considerably  modified  by  the  plain,  courteous, 
and  polished  manners  of  the  gentleman  now  before 
him,  who,  so  far  from  having  all  his  sympathies 
with  the  outer  world  rubbed  olf  by  his  long,  deep 
classical  studies,  had  yet  a  smile  and  a  tone  ol 
interest  for  the  young  aspirant's  admiration  of 
scones  so  familiar  to  himself.  They  did  not 
remain  long  in  inaction,  time  being  precious ;  and 
after  a  little  conversation,  the  principal  subjects 
of  which  were  our  liero's  admission  anil  innnediate 

matriculation,  Mr.  L turned   to  Louis,  and 

asked  what   books  he  had   l)cen  reading  lately ; 


183  .       DASHWOOD   PRIORY. 

and  having  made  it  at  length  clear  to  his  mind 
that  he  spoke  of  Latin  and  Greek  authors,  he 
produced  a  copy  of  iEschylus,  and  opening  it 
in  the  middle  of  "  Prometheus  Vinctus/'  desired 
him  to  construe  a  fev/  lines,  and,  after  asking 
some  questions,  expressed  himself  satisfied,  and 
gave  him  ten  lines  of  an  English  work,  which  lay 
on  the  table,  to  turn  into  Latin.  Louis  did  not 
find  his  task  so  hard  as  he  expected,  and  was 
agreeably  relieved  to  learn  that  this  concluded  tlie 
inquiry ;  and  having  further  signified  his  willing- 
ness to  swear  to  the  Thirty-nine  Articles,  they  set 
out  on  the  important  business.  The  first  step 
was  to  procure  a  cap  and  gown ;  and  this  being 
done  at  the  nearest  tailor's,  they  wended  theu'  way 
to  the  convocation-house.  .  It  mattered  little  to 
Louis  that  his  father  was  too  much  engaged  to 
talk  to  him  during  the  promenade  thither ;  he 
had  food  enough  for  thought  aU  the  way,  in  the 
buildings,  and  would  willingly  have  lingered 
longer  in  E-adclyffe-square  :  but  here  business 
commenced  of  which  Louis  had  afterwards  very 
little  clear  consciousness,  for  he  afterwards  told 
Mary,  who  was  very  anxious  to  hear  all  the  pro- 
ceedings, that  he  did  not  know  what  was  said  or 
done;  the  ceremony  might  have  been  in  Greek 
or  Hebrew,  for  anything  he  knew  to  the  contrary, 
as  he  was  too  much  overcome  by  the  part  he  was 
taking  to  be  aware  of  more  than  the  fact  that  he 
kissed  a  book,  signed  his  name,  and,  obedient  to 
a  hint  from  Mr.  L ,  he  retraced  his  steps,  and 


DASHWOOD    PRK)RY.  183 

foimd  "himself  again  at  the  college-gates  before  he 
fully  realized  his  new  position.  As  it  wanted  yet 
some  time  to  the  dinner-hour,  and  as  Mr.  Mor- 
timer had  one  or  two  flying  calls  to  pay, — one 
especially  on  Frank  Digby,  -who  had  lately  come 
up  to  reside  at  Oxford  in  Louis'  college, — he  bid 

adieu  to  Mr.  L here,  with  the  understanding 

that  they  should  meet  at  five,  ]Mr.  L having 

informed  Louis  where  he  would  find  a  place  and 
dinner  at  that  hour.  Not  being  aware  of  the 
predilection  the  "  men"  possess  for  tattered  gowns 
and  battered  caps,  Louis  marched  along  in  his 
new-blown  splendour,  unconscious  that  the  long 
leading-strings,  whose  use  he  could  not  compre- 
hend, should,  to  make  a  man  of  him,  have  been 
cut  off.  However,  it  signified  but  little,  for  his 
very  new  appearance,  and  undisguised  admiration 
of  everything  around  him,  betrayed  him  as  a  very 
freshman  at  once.  Frank  was  out ;  and  when 
everything  was  done  that  had  been  contemplated, 
Louis  and  his  father  retraced  their  steps.  The 
streets  were  now  full  of  men  returning  from  tlieir 
walks  and  rides,  and  Louis  carefully  scrutinized 
the  faces  he  passed,  to  catch  sight  of  one  familiar 
to  himself.  For  some  time  his  searcli  was  vain ; 
but  as  they  came  upon  Carfax  church,  he  sud- 
denly caught  sight  of  an  elegant  figure,  whose 
aristocratic  bearing  and  beautifully-chiselled  fea- 
tures were  unmistakable,  even  after  four  years' 
distance  of  time.  Louis  darted  from  his  father 
across  the  street  with  a  welcome  on  liis  lips,  but 


18i  DASH  WOOD    PRIORY. 

the  stately  figure  swept  by  without  appearing  to 
see  him,  and,  meeting  a  friend,  proceeded  at  a 
slower  rate  down  St.  Aldate's.  Louis  stood  a 
minute  in  rather  indignant  surprise,  and  it  re- 
quired all  his  father's  eloquence  to  persuade  him 
that  Trevannion  had  not  seen  him. 

Mr.  Mortimer  and  Louis  parted  near  the  hall 
entrance,  and  the  dinner-bell  ringing  at  the 
moment,  Louis  was  left  to  make  his  entree  alone. 
As  he  stood  doubtfully  at  the  door,  the  men  began 
to  pour  in,  and  screwing  his  courage  to  the  stick - 
ing-point,  he  timidly  stepped  into  a  noble  apart- 
ment, of  somewhere  between  forty  and  sixty  feet 
long,  and  thirty  feet  broad.  It  was  lighted  by 
windows  of  the  Perpendicular  style,  which  began 
about  half-way  up  the  wall,  and  was  hung  round 
Avith  numerous  portraits  of  benevolent  founders 
and  great  guns.  On  each  side  of  the  wall,  and 
down  the  middle,  were  ranged  the  tables,  with 
stout  forms  of  the  same  dark  oak  as  the  panellings 
of  the  room  ;  and  at  the  further  end  was  the  fel- 
lows' table,  at  which  Louis  presently  saw  his  fiither, 
and  which  seemed  to  him  a  species  of  royal  dais, 
so  little  did  he  feel  himself  in  the  assemblage,  and 
so  utterly  indifferent  did  every  one  seem  to  his 
presence.  He  had  completely  forgotten  all  the 
directions  given  him,  and  was  about  to  take  a 
seat  at  the  lowest  end  of  the  lowest  table,  when  a 
well-known  voice  and  merry  laugh,  which  at  this 
juncture  sounded  most  musically,  told  him  of  his 
cousin's  vicinity,  and  the  next  minute  Frank  had 


DASHWOOl)    PRIORY.  185 

led  him  to  another  table,  and  placed  him  comfort- 
ably near  himself.  lie  ^vas  scarcely  seated,  when 
a  solitary  knock,  followed  by  an  immediate  rising 
of  the  men,  drew  him  again  to  his  feet,  and  after 
a  few  indistinct  words,  mnmblcd  somewhere,  -which 
he  concluded  was  a  grace,  he  with  the  others  re- 
seated himself.  A  bill  of  fare  was  next  put  into 
his  hand,  and  having  made  choice  of  his  dish,  he 
was  speedily  served  therewith,  and  after  a  few 
miinites  ventured  to  look  round  and  listen  to  the 
conversation,  which  at  first  had  to  him  been  an 
indistinguishable  Babel.  Opposite  to  him  sat  a 
very  solemn,  demure-looking  man,  apparently 
several  years  older  than  any  at  the  table.  He 
said  but  little,  except  when  roused  by  his  neigh- 
bours, or  occasionally  by  a  satirical-looking  man 
on  Louis'  left  hand,  whose  tone  and  manner  had 
annoyed  our  hero  several  times,  from  its  sarcastic 
causticity  :  he  felt  almost  afraid  of  l)cing  the  object 
of  his  -ridicule.  Between  him  and  Frank  there 
seemed  to  be  some  intimacy,  and  they  bandied 
jokes,  and  drew  out  alternately  the  ludicrous  points 
of  their  vis-u-vts. 

Louis'  attention  was  presently  absorbed  by  a 
tale  of  some  4nexperiericed  equestrian,  related  with 
considerable  humour  by  his  satirical  companion, 
whose  name  he  soon  discovered  to  be  Ford  ;  but 
the  noise  increased  so  much,  that,  eager  to  lose 
nothing,  he  caught  only  disjointed  fragments,  and 
Ford  possessing  the  loudest  voice,  lus  story  was 
most  prominent.     It  died  away  amidst  plaudits  of 


186  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  very  rich/^  "  bravo/'  "  very  good."  ''  Perfectly 
luscious^  as  Halhed  says  of  the  moon ;  eh^  Halhed. 
What's  that  ?  what's  that  ?  " 

"  Some  monkish  reason  why  the  Aveather  has 
been  so  fine  this  month/'  returned  the  gentleman 
addressed. 

"  Let  us  hear  it,  Halhed." 

The  solemn  gentleman,  who  had  been  uttering 
a  few  sentences  in  an  oracular  tone,  replied  as 
sententiously  as  before, — 

"  Prima,  secunda  nihil,  tertia  sicut. 

"  Quarta,  quinta  qualis — tota  luna  talis." 

"A  sconce  !  a  sconce !"  cried  Ford.  "Benson, 
a  sconce  here." 

The  senior  commoner,  thus  appealed  to,  broke 
oif  a  sentence  short,  to  inquire  of  Mr.  Halhed 
whether  he  denied  it. 

"  In  toto,"  replied  Mr.  Halhed,  indignantly. 

"  Ford,  please  to  enlighten  us." 

Ford  repeated  the  distich,  while  Frank  re- 
marked on  Halhed's  reply  to  Louis,  that  he 
happily  just  stopped  short  of  another  sconce. 

"  A  sconce  for  Mr.  Halhed,"  called  Mr.  Benson 
to  the  attendant  waiter. 

"  I  shall  appeal !  "  exclaimed  the  indignant 
Mr.  Halhed.  "That  does  not  come  under  the 
statute.     It  is  no  quotation." 

"  I  am  afraid  the  heads  will  think  you  a  bad 
scholar,  if  you  don't  call  that  Latin,  Halhed," 
said  the  senior. 

"  You   will   make    yourself    ridiculous,"    said 


DASHWOOD    PRlOnV.  187 

mother.  "  They  gave  it  against  you  last 
;ime." 

"  Come  now^  you  can't  be  obdurate,"  said 
Hamilton,  as  a  huge  silver  tankard  was  placed 
jefore  him,  full  of  frothing  ale. 

To  Louis'  great  amusement,  the  sconced  martyr 
iftcd  the  tankard  -with  one  hand,  and  touching 
he  liquid  with  his  lips,  sent  it  up  to  the  senior, 
ivho  performed  the  ceremony  with  equal  agility, 
md  apparently  with  much  greater  zest,  as  he  dived 
nuch  deeper  into  its  contents.  The  tankard  was 
;hen  passed  gradually  round  the  table,  till  it 
•cached  Louis,  who,  with  a  heightened  colour,  was 
ibout  to  pass  it  on  to  Frank  without  tasting,  when 
Ford  cried  out, — 

"  Come,  you  are  not  to  be  excused ;  when  we 
ire  at  Rome,  et  cetera." 

'*'  You  must  taste  it,  Louis,'^  said  Frank,  with  a 
vickcd  smile. 

Louis  raised  it  with  both  hands,  and  ere  he  had 
;asted  the  ale,  several  voices  laughingly  called  out. 
''  A  sconce  here,  Benson."  The  colour  deepened 
3n  Louis'  face,  and  he  put  down  the  tankard  with 
lu  inquiring  look  at  his  cousin,  who  seemed  the 
merriest  of  the  merry  at  the  trap  into  which  he 
had  fallen,  "Why  ?"  he  asked,  but  with  a  per- 
fectly good-tempered  manner;  but  before  Frank 
could  inform  him  that  he  had  used  both  hands  to 
the  tankard,  contrary  to  all  established  custom, 
Mr.  Benson  had  politely  excused  Louis  as  a  non- 
resident. 


188  DASHWOOD    PUIOKY. 

"  You  are  a  fortunate  man,"  said  Ford,  as 
Frank  removed  the  tankard.  "  You  will  not  be 
caught  again." 

Louis  was  not  sorry  when  dinner  was  concluded. 
Frank  showed  him  the  way  to  the  common  room, 
where  he  had  been  desired  to  join  his  father.  On 
his  entrance  he  was  invited  to  the  table,  where 
his  father  was  seated,  and  a  hope  having  been 
expressed  that  he  had  made  a  good  dinner,  he  was 
supplied  with  a  glass  of  fine  old  port,  and  left  to 
amuse  himself  by  taking  a  mental  inventory  of 
the  comfortable  room  and  its  occupants  for  the 
benefit  of  home,  while  his  father  and  Mr.  L.  dis- 
coursed very  eloquently  on  thirds  and  scouts,  and 
lectures,  and  private  tutors.  He  was  perhaps  a 
little  relieved  to  find  how  very  much  like  other 
men  the  fellows  were,  and  how  they  could  talk 
of  horses  and  politics  without  a  single  Latin  or 
Greek  word,  his  own  imaginings  having  led  him 
to  suppose  that  these  erudite  men  never  spoke  of 
anything  but  classic  authors,  or  the  roots  of  words, 
or  uttered  a  sentence  in  the  vernacular  when  not 
called  on  to  descend  to  the  comprehension  of  an 
unlettered  stranger.  One  of  the  party  especially 
attracted  Louis'  attention;  this  was  a  queer-looking 
little  man,  carelessly  attired,  who  gave  utterance 
occasionally  to  dry  remarks,  striking  from  their 
oddity  and  pithiness.  There  was  a  world  of  kind- 
liness in  his  small  twinkling  eye,  which  Louis  met 
fixed  on  him  more  than  once,  till  at  length,  when 
Louis  blushed  at  being  caught  so  often  looking 


DASHWOOD    PRIOIIY.  189 

that  way,  he  addressed  a  few  words  to  him,  and 
iftcr  our  hero's  modest  reply,  asked  if  he  had  any 
rriends  in  Oxford. 

Louis  answered  in  the  affirmative,  mentioning 
liis  "  cousin  "  and  a  "  very  intimate  friend/' 

"  Umph !  indeed,"  said  the  old  gentleman, 
holding  up  his  glass  to  the  light,  and  looking  over 
it  to  Louis.  ''  And  who  may  your  cousin  be,  and 
your  '  intimate  friend  ?  '  if  you  have  no  objection 
to  nr^me  them." 

Louis  mentioned  Hamilton  and  Frank,  and  the 
aid  man's  countenance  brightened,  as  he  said, — 

"  Mr.  Hamilton  is  a  credit  to  his  college ;"  but 
the  smile  lingered  on  his  face,  though  he  did  not 
speak  of  Frank. 

Louis  at  length  ventured  to  inquire  if  he  knew 
Frank. 

"  Umph  !  I  suppose  I  know  most  of  tlie  'men,' 
as  they  call  themselves.  Poor  boys, — I  hope  you 
and  I  shall  be  friends  some  day ;  but  perliaps  you 
think,  like  some  of  the  harum  scarum  fellows  of 
the  day,  that  you  come  up  for  fun,  and  go  home 
to  read, — eh?" 

"  I  hope  not,"  replied  Louis,  smiling. 

"Ay,  so  they  all  say, — umph!"  said  tlie  gen- 
tleman, with  a  slightly  satisfied  glance  at  the 
modest  blush  on  Louis'  countenance.  "  Take 
care  and  keep  close  to  yom*  intimate  friend  ;  he'll 
keep  you  up  to  the  mark.  As  for  the  other — 
poor  lad, — he  came  from  Cambridge,  I  liear  : — 
umph! — very  unsettled; — never  do  any  good." 


190  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

He  murmured  something  to  himself;  but  in 
spite  of  his  sweeping  censure  on  Frank,  Louis 
felt  sure  that,  as  usual,  his  incorrigible  cousin 
had  somehow  worked  himself  into  his  good  graces. 
There  was  a  slight  pause,  and  Mr.  Royston  sipped 
his  wine,  and  looked  at  Louis,  and  then  asked 
what  he  had  seen  at  Oxford ;  and,  little  by  little, 
drew  him  out,  till  Louis  was  surprised  to  find 
how  much  he  was  talking,  and  how  many  ques- 
tions he  had  asked  about  the  birthplace  of  Coeur 
de  Lion,  the  residence  of  Henry  Beauclerc,  the 
college  used  for  a  mint  in  the  reign  of  Charles  the 
Pirst ;  that  which  had  sent  forth  Erasmus,  Laud, 
Dr.  Arnold,  and  others,  with  many  other  parti- 
culars, which  were  all  satisfactorily  answered  in  a 
few  words,  with  now  and  then  a  little  anecdote 
annexed.  Louis  had  almost  forgotten  the  awful 
presence  in  which  he  was,  when  the  time  arrived 
for  him  to  leave ;  and  after  thanking  Mr.  L.  for 
his  assistance,  and  Mr.  Royston  for  his  attention 
to  Louis,  Mr.  Mortimer  departed  for  the  Mitre, 
and  on  the  Avay  informed  Louis  that  his  friend 
Hamilton  took  pupils,  and  that  he  meant  to  try 
to  secure  his  services  as  private  tutor  for  him. 
Louis  then  added  his  mite  of  news,  more  in- 
teresting to  himself  than  to  his  father,  that 
Charles  Clifton  had  gained  a  scholasrhip ;  "  and 
do  you  know,  father,  he  was  the  youngest 
candidate,  and  quite  astonished  the  examiners. 
That  old  gentleman  who  talked  so  much  to 
me,  told  me  that  his  competitors  were  no  babies. 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  191 

I  always   thought   Charlie  -would  do   something 
for  himself." 

"  That  old  gentleman/'  replied  j\Ir.  Mortimer, 
"is  the  mathematical  tutor;  and  I  am  afraid, 
therefore,  will  not  stand  very  high  in  your 
favoui'." 

"  I  like  him/'  said  Louis,  smiling,  "  however 
much  I  may  dislike  his  likings." 

"Wc  have  already,  more  than  on  one  occasion, 
minutely  described  the  arrival  at  Dashwood  Priory; 
our  readers  -^vill  therefore  permit  us  to  plead  Avant 
of  space  in  excuse  for  omitting  the  recital  of 
Louis'  return  from  Oxford,  and  the  long  tale  he 
had  to  tell  his  willing  auditors,  and  allow  us 
merely  to  mention,  that  in  a  few  months  a  letter 
came  from  Mr.  L.,  to  inform  Mr.  Mortimer  that, 
a  vacancy  having  occm-red,  Louis  could  come 'up 
into  residence.  Parting  for  school  and  college 
had  been  of  so  common  occurrence  for  some 
years,  that  the  affectionate  little  party  bore  their 
separation  as  quietly  as  could  be  expected.  There 
was  great  combination  in  the  packing  of  his 
luggage :  over  and  over  again  were  their  contents 
displaced,  to  make  room  for  some  indispensable 
and  forgotten  article ;  and  when  all  seemed  ready, 
the  night  before  he  set  off,  Mrs.  Colthrop  sud- 
denly declared  her  belief  that  no  preserves  were 
packed  up,  and  forthwith  ordered  another  box 
down  to  contain  them.  Then  some  groceries 
were  to  fill  tlic  interstices  between  the  pots,  in 
case  dear  Master  Louis,  wbo  was  so  aljsent, — dear 


192  DASHWOOD   PHI  OR  Y. 

young  gentleman^  should  forget  to  buy  his  neces- 
saries ;  and  at  last^  after  stowing  away  four  times 
as  many  things  as  Reginald  would  ever  have  put 
up  with^  his  luggage  was  declared  to  be  quite 
ready.  The  last  evening  was  very  cheerfully 
spent ;  as  Louis  now  and  then  reminded  them  he 
should  only  be  away  seven  weeks.  But  there  was, 
nevertheless,  a  little  sinking  of  the  heart, — a  little 
fear  of  the  temptations  of  his  new  life;  not, 
perhaps,  the  less  that  his  father  looked  many 
times  anxiously  at  him,  and  his  mother  was  less 
cheerful  than  usual.  They  did  not  forget  in 
that  little  familj^  circle,  where  all  their  affairs 
were  committed  to  the  gracious  Orderer  of  all 
events,  to  remember  him  especially  that  night. 
It  was  settled  that  Mr.  Mortimer  should  accom- 
pany his  son  to  Oxford,  and  arrange  the  final 
matters  concerning  his  rooms :  they  were  to  set  off 
early  the  next  day  for  London,  concluding  their 
long  journey  the  following  afternoon.  The  next 
morning  their  plans  of  operation  were  materially 
altered;  for  unexpected  parish  matters  peremp- 
torily demanding  Mr.  Mortimer's  presence  the 
day  Louis  was  to  commence  his  college  life,  he 
was,  much  against  his  will,  obliged  to  send  Louis 
alone  from  Norwich. 

"  God  bless  you,  my  boy,"  he  said,  as  lie  shook 
his  son's  hand ;  "  I  hope  to  be  with  you  in  a  day  or 
two.  You  will  be  able  to  manage  tolerably,  I  hope. 
Perhaps  your  friend  Hamilton  will  help  you." 

Louis   set   off  once   more   on   a   long,    lonely 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  193 

jouraey,  often  recalling  that  anxious  inquiring 
look  he  had  met  the  previous  evening  from  his 
parents,  and  mentally  resolving  and  praying  that 
no  ill  conduct  of  his  should  ever  bring  sorrow 
upon  them. 


— 7<;i;(2ir='«eifeS=:4C:>r~- 


194  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

"  So  he  poked  up  the  flame. 
And  got  out  the  tea  ; 
And  down  they  both  sat, 
As  prepared  as  could  be." 

Leigh  Hunt. 

Behold  Louis  safely  at  the  gates  of  liis  college 
at  half-past  five  o'clock  on  a  rainy  October  after- 
noon, bewildered  and  anxious  to  reach  the  habita- 
tion he  could  call  his  own,  quite  unconscious,  in 
his  eagerness  to  leave  the  "  Mitre,''  where  he  had 
heen  taking  a  hasty  dinner,  that  he  had  given  a 
couple  of  packages  m  charge  ot  the  porter  which 
did  not  belong  to  him,  in  exchange  for  an  equal 
number  of  his  own.  Having  at  length  discovered 
which  were  his  rooms,  his  luggage  was  conveyed: 
thither,  and  he  was  left  to  his  solitary  reflections. 
His  first  care  was  to  examine  his  apartments. 
The  room  into  which  he  first  entered  was  panelled 
with  dark  oak,  and  possessed  a  venerable  casement 
>vindow,  whose  romantic  proportions  quite  accorded 
with  our  hero's  organ  of  veneration.  But  here 
the  charm  ceased.  The  furniture,  concerning 
which  he  had  heard  so  much  about  "  thirds"  on  a 
former  occasion,  was  by  no  means  of  a  first-rate 
description ;  and  however  much  Louis  might  have 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  195 

tolerated  the  smoky  ceiling,  as  consistent  with  the 
antique  whole,  he  by  no  means  admired  the  dingy 
faded  window-curtains,  the  miserably  stained 
carpet,  and  the  rickety  chairs  that  adorned  the 
sitting-room.  "Why,  I  do  declare!"  he  said  to 
himself,  "I  do  declare  they  must  have  been 
smoking  very  much  here  ;  surely  when  my  father 
comes  I  shall  have  a  new  carpet.  Oh,  here's 
plenty  of  room  for  books  though,  and  I  shall  put 
mv  piano  here.  How  kind  it  is  of  dear  father  to 
let  me  have  a  piano." 

Louis  paused  in  his  survey,  as  his  thoughts 
rapidly  carried  him  back  to  home,  and  he  remained 
in  rather  a  painful  reverie,  looking  on  the  spot 
where  the  piano  in  imagination  stood.  Rousing 
himself,  he  next  proceeded  to  an  inspection  of  the 
two  cupboards  the  room  contained,  and  concluded 
with  a  minute  survey  of  his  sleeping-room.  With 
the  latter  he  was  not  much  charmed,  either  with 
the  size  of  the  room  or  the  appurtenances  thereof, 
and  wondered,  in  a  low  voice,  several  times,  "  How 
it  was  possible  to  dress  in  such  a  closet."  But 
not  being  of  an  unhappy  disposition,  after  scruti- 
nizing all  for  some  minutes,  he  returned  to  the 
outer  room,  determining  to  make  the  best  of 
circumstances. 

"  How  very  quiet  it  is,"  he  thought.  "  That  is 
a  great  comfort ;  but  I  suppose  the  men  arc  not 
all  in  yet." 

It  was  rapidly  growing  dusk,  and  Louis  turned 
to  the  dim  fuv,  and  wondered  where  ho  should 


196  DASHAVOOD    PRIORY. 

get  candles^  when  the  scout  was  coming,  and  then 
looked  for  the  poker.  There  was  none,  and  the 
fire  was  very  low.  Louis  waited  patiently,  divested 
himself  of  his  great  coat,  kicked  the  gasless  coals 
with  his  toe,  and  finally  sat  down  in  the  window. 
He  would  have  begun  to  unpack,  but  he  could 
not  see  to  put  away  his  things ;  and  besides,  he 
was  tired,  and  did  not  feel  much  inclined  to  Htter 
his  room  in  every  direction  with  jam-pots,  linen, 
and  broad-cloth.  Patiently  he  sat,  still  hoping 
each  minute  Avould  bring  the  scout ;  but  the  faint 
light  gradually  faded  away,  the  dim  fire  sunk 
lower  and  lower,  and  the  room,  though  not  posi- 
tively cold,  was  chilly  and  very  desolate.  He 
wandered  round  the  room  in  desperation,  looking 
and  feeling  in  every  corner  for  the  signs  of  a  bell, 
but  could  find  none. 

"  How  am  I  to  get  this  man?"  he  murmured. 
He  looked  once  more  out  of  the  window,  but  all 
he  could  discern  in  the  uncertain  light  was  a 
shadowy  outline  of  a  porter  with  luggage  at  the 
further  side  of  the  "  quad,"  and  two  men  entering 
a  door  in  the  same  direction.  From  two  windows 
the  ruddy  glow  of  fire-light  came  forth,  and 
another  blind  was  radiant  with  lamp  or  candle- 
light; but  beyond  this  there  was  nothing  but 
thick  clouds  and  splashing  and  dripping.  At 
length  Louis  saw  a  man  hastily  cross  the  quad  in 
his  direction,  with  a  lantern  in  his  hand,  and  he 
ventured  to  open  his  door  and  steal  out  timidly 
On  the  landing.     Nothing  was  to  be  heard,  and 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  197 

notliing:  was  to  be  seen.  He  descended,  still  very 
cautiously,  and,  much  afraid  of  going  somewhere 
uhcrc  he  ought  not,  at  length  reached  the  ground- 
floor,  and  commenced  a  search  for  his  cousin's 
rooms.,  -which  he  knew  were  somewhere  there  : 
and  there  they  were  sure  enough,  with  the  outer 
door  fast.  Louis  knocked ;  no  answer  :  a  second 
time,  but  all  was  silent;  but  just  when  he  was 
about  to  venture  into  the  quadrangle  to  find  the 
retreat  of  the  gate  porter,  to  his  great  relief  a 
middle-aged  man,  with  a  lantern,  entered  rapidly 
and  approached  him. 

"Beg  pardon,  sir;  mistaken  your  rooms?" 
He  turned  his  lantern  curiously  on  Louis. 

"  I  want  Mr.  Digby,"  said  our  hero. 

"  He's  not  come  in  yet,  sir." 

"  I  thought  every  one  was  obliged  to  come  in 
to-day,"  said  Louis,  feeling  very  much  as  if  he 
liad  been  caught  doing  a  wrong  thing. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  but  most  of  the  gentlemen  doesn't 
knock  in  till  late." 

"Are  you  the  scout?"  asked  Louis.  "The 
porter  at  the  gate  told  me  he  would  send  you.  I 
want  some  coals  and  some  candles  in  my  i-oom. 
And  there's  no  poker." 

"  Plenty  of  coals,  sir,"  said  the  man,  as  he 
followed  Louis,  "Mr.  Mortimer?"  lie  added, 
inquiringly,  as  Louis  approached  the  open  door. 

I^ouis  replied  in  the  affirmative;  :uid  the  man 
entering  presently  produced  a  couple  of  candle- 
sticks from  a  small  room  or  closet,  about  half  the 


198  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

size  of  Louis'  bed-room,  which  he  had  not 
observed;  next  he  brought  out  a  poker,  and 
stirred  the  fire. 

'^'Fraid  you've  been  very  uncomfortable,  sir. 
Have  you  any  candles,  sir?  There  was  none 
ordered." 

"  No  ;  really,"  said  Louis,  "  I  don't  know  any- 
thing about  them.  Cannot  you  get  me  one  for 
to-night?" 

"  I'll  see  if  I  can  borrow  one  or  two,  sir." 

He  went  away,  and  returned  in  a  few  minutes 
with  a  couple  of  candles,  and  placing  them  in  the 
sticks,  lighted  one,  and  then  busied  liimseli  in 
laying  a  few  sticks  on  the  fire ;  when,  to  Louis' 
surprise,  he  lifted  the  window-seat  on  which  he 
had  been  sitting  and  abstracted  thence  two  or 
three  shovelfuls  of  coal. 

"  That's  where  the  coals  is,  sir  ;  all  handy,  sir ; 
and  when  you  want  anything,  sir,  if  you  summon 
me,  I'll  make  all  straight." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Louis,  smiling ;  "  I  shall  be 
wiser  next  time :  but  how  am  I  to  summon  you  ? 
I  see  no  bell  here." 

"  The  gentlemen  calls  out  of  the  doors  and 
windows,  sir;  they  ain't  no  ways  particular  about 
bells." 

"  And  what  is  your  name  ?"  asked  Louis. 

"  Harry,  sir." 

Louis  looked  puzzled,  and  the  scout  finished  by 
asking  if  he  could  get  iiim  anything. 

"I   should   like    some    tea    by-and-by,"   said 


Louis's  College  Room. 


DASH  WOOD    PRIORY.  199 

Louis.  "  Can  you  get  me  some  boiling  water,  or 
must  I  make  it  myself  ?  " 

This  question  was  presently  answered  by  the 
appearance  of  a  battered  copper  teakettle  from 
the  closet  before  mentioned,  which  was  already 
filled  with  water ;  then  Louis  asked  his  assistance 
in  undoing  his  store-box,  mentally  thanking  the 
provident  old  housekeeper  for  her  provision  of 
groceries.  The  scout  hinted  the  necessity  of  pro- 
viding some  sheets  for  the  bedmaker,  as  he  turned 
over  the  box  indicated. 

"But  these  are  not  my  boxes,^^  exclaimed 
Louis.  "  What  am  I  to  do  ?  I  shall  have  no  tea 
and  no  bed  apparently  to-night." 

The  scout  and  his  new  master  stood  looking  at 
one  another,  and  Louis  afterwards  wondered  that 
the  former  could  keep  his  countenance  so  im- 
moveably. 

"  Well,  sir,"  he  said,  at  length,  "  we  must  get 
these  to  their  right  owners.  Olr.  ISIoreton,' — 
that's  No.  3,  corner  staircase, — not  my  staircase, 
— right-hand  side.  Is  your  boxes  got  a  full  direc- 
tion on  'em,  sir?" 

Louis  replied  in  the  affirmative,  and  the  scout 
remarked, — 

"Then  thev'll  reach  all  safe  enough,  I  dare 
say." 

"  But  can  you  get  me  any  tea?"  said  Louis, 
anxiously  ;  "  can  any  one  see  after  my  luggage?" 

"You  left  it  where,  sir  ?  " 

"At  the  'Mitre.'" 


200  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

The  scout  I'eassured  him,  and  then  vanished  to 
procure  some  tea  for  our  poor  bewildered  hero. 

During  his  absence,  Louis  dolefully  watched 
the  ascending  flames  of  his  very  young-looking 
fire,  and  mentally  wondered  when  he  might  cal- 
culate on  the  kettle  boiling.  Before  he  had  solved 
this  problem,  his  messenger  returned,  bringing 
with  him  a  pleasant-looking  young  man,  whose 
frank  and  cordial  manner  prepossessed  him  di- 
rectly. 

"  I  hear  you  are  in  distress,^'  he  said.  "  My 
name  is  Nevinson ;  I  keep  near  you.  This  is  a 
very  uncomfortable  beginning,^^  he  said,  smiling ; 
"will  you  come  and  take  a  bachelor's  tea  with 
me  ?  I  can  offer  it  hot,  with  a  good  fire,  too.'' 

''  You  are  very  kind,"  said  Loius,  Avarmly 
shaking  the  proffered  hand ;  "  I  shall  be  very 
glad  indeed  to  accept  your  kind  offer,  for  I  am 
most  unfortunately  situated.  I  have  brought 
another  man's  luggage  by  mistake,  and  am  afraid 
I  am  doomed  either  to  the  floor  or  sofa,  or  a 
sheetless  and  pillow-caseless  bed  to-night.'' 

"  Harry  has  been  to  me  twice  to-night  on  your 
behalf,"  said  his  new  friend,  "  and  has  told  me  all 
your  troubles.  If  your  luggage  does  not  arrive 
soon,  I  shall  be  very  happy  to  lend  you  some 
sheets.     Harry  will  fetch  them." 

"  I  am  really  in  too  great  a  state  of  distress  to 
refuse  your  kind  offer,"  replied  Louis;  "I  am 
very  much  obliged  to  you." 

"Well,  come  along  to  my  rooms;  vours  offer 


DASmVOOD    PIUOKV.  201 

but  .1  desolate  welcome  to  a  freshman.  We  will 
leave  the  field  fair  to  Harry  and  the  bedraaker ; 
and  I  dare  say  all  will  be  comfortable  enough 
when  you  return." 

Louis  followed  his  new  friend  across  the  land- 
ing to  an  open  door,  whence  the  reflection  of  a 
ruddy  fire  glowed,  and  presently  found  himself  in  a 
most  enticing-looking  snuggery.  This  room  was 
panelled  like  his  own ;  but  a  blazing  fire  shone 
upon  red  carpet,  red  curtains,  red  tablecloth,  and 
plain  substantial  furniture.  An  Argand  lamp 
burned  on  a  table  in  front  of  the  fire,  on  which 
was  placed  a  small  teatray,  resplendent  with  gild- 
ing, and  a  solitary  cup  and  saucer,  black  teapot, 
cream-jug,  and  sugar-basin.  Beyond  the  tray 
were  bread  and  butter,  and  a  preserve-pot  of  capa- 
cious dimensions.  On  a  little  table,  on  one  side 
of  the  fire,  were  two  or  three  books,  and  in  front 
of  the  fire  a  large  red  morocco  library-chair,  which 
it  was  easy  to  imagine  the  owner  had  just  vacated. 
A  kettle,  too  large  for  the  fireplace,  was  tenderly 
balanced  on  the  edges  of  the  hobs,  and  Avas  now 
sending  forth  huge  columns  of  steam,  very  sug- 
gestive of  a  nice  cup  of  tea.  To  finish  the  pic- 
ture, a  well-stocked  set  of  book-shelves  ou  one 
side,  a  chess-board  and  box  of  men  and  a  flute  on 
a  small  console  table,  and  one  or  two  framed  en- 
gravings hanging  against  the  walls,  attracted 
Louis'  eyes,  and  instantly  assured  him  of  the 
quiet  tastes  of  his  new  acquaintance. 

'S\r.  Xcvinson  wheeled  the  large  chair  to  the 


202  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

snuggest  side  of  the  fire,  and  invited  Louis  to  seat 
himself;  and  on  Louis  demurring  about  occupying 
it,  lie  merrily  produced  a  smaller  one  from  a  dark 
corner  of  the  room. 

"  I  always  keep  one  for  my  friends  and  myself 
too.  Now  turn  yours  round  to  the  front;  you 
are  cold,  and  I  am  done  to  a  turn.  It  is  rather 
an  uncomfortable  evening." 

"  Rather  !  "  echoed  Louis  ;  "  a  very  miserable 
evening,  I  think.  You  are  very  moderate  in  your 
terms ;  I  suppose  because  your  room  is  so  snug." 

"Or,  rather,"  replied  Nevinson,  quietly,  "be- 
cause I  have  an  antipathy  to  railing  at  the 
weather." 

Louis  colom'ed;  but  the  reply  was  like  music 
to  his  ears. 

"  So  have  I  too,"  he  answered,  "  and  I  stand 
rebuked  for  my  forgetfulness." 

Nevinson  looked  up  at  him  with  a  peculiarly 
bright  smile,  and  filling  a  cup  full  of  tea,  tossed 
it  into  the  pot,  then  seizing  the  steaming  kettle, 
filled  it. 

"  You  shall  have  a  cup  directly.  We  are  our 
own  tea-makers  here,  and  very  good  tea-makers 
we  become  in  a  marvellously  short  time ;  we  beat 
all  the  mothers  and  sisters  hollow.  I  won't  say 
much  for  economy,  though  ;  you  will  find  a  very 
liberal  spirit  characteristic  of  Oxonians.  We  are 
many  of  us  not  content  only  with  giving  our  little 
all,  but  what  we  want  we  '  borrow,  borrow, 
borrow ! '     However,  rest  content  that  this  is  an 


DASnWOOD   PRIORY.  203 

honest  cup  of  tea,  as  I  hope  all  you  get  here  will 
he/'  he  added,  as  he  replaced  the  kettle  on  the 
hearth.  '•  !My  kettle  is  on  too  magnificent  a 
scale  for  my  grate ;  I  assure  you  it  requires  a 
conjurer's  skill  to  stick  it  on  the  fire ;  only  Harry 
and  I  can  perfectly  succeed.  One  man  sticks  it 
down  on  one  side,  and  the  •water  runs  out  of  the 
lid,  then  he  attempts  to  remedy  it  by  damaging 
the  other  half  of  the  fire  ;  and  another  will  arrange 
so  that  it  shall  tumble  over  on  your  feet,  if  you 
have  the  hardihood  to  sit  near  the  fire  when  it 
boils.  I  bought  it  a  year  and  a  half  ago,  when  I 
did  not  fully  understand  my  means  of  accommo- 
dation ;  it  has  served  my  turn,  and  I  don't  like 
discarding  an  old  friend.  Where's  Harry,  I 
wonder  ?  " 

Hardly  had  he  uttered  the  words,  when  the 
scout  appeared  with  some  cold  meat,  which  he 
placed  on  the  table,  and  then  fetched  another  cup 
and  saucer,  plate,  knife  and  fork,  from  some 
mysterious  recess,  and  again  vanished. 
"  You  are  hungry,  I  dare  say,  Mortimer." 
"  No,  thank  you ;  I  made  a  very  fair  dinner 
just  before  my  arrival." 

Ncvinson  then  produced  a  toasting-fork  and 
set  about  making  some  toast,  when,  his  pre- 
parations being  completed,  much  to  Louis's 
amusement,  he  drew  the  large  tabic  nearer  to  the 
fire,  and  invited  Louis  to  partake  of  the  repast. 
Certainly  our  hero  thought  he  had  never  seen  so 
black  a  cup  of  tea  as  that  now  handed  to  him. 


204  DAsmvooD  priory. 

"Sugar?  cream?"  inquired  Nevinson,  as  he 
produced  from  the  tray  the  several  receptacles 
for  these  articles. 

Louis  thanked  him^  paused,  and  took  some 
cream. 

"No  sugar?" 

"Yes,  thank  you;"  replied  Louis,  almost  afraid 
to  ask  for  something  that  might  not  be  there. 
He  said  nothing,  but  took  his  teaspoon  and 
helped  himself  very  carefully  to  the  saccharine 
luxury.  The  pains  he  took  in  chasing  the  lumps 
from  side  to  side  before  he  safely  attained  his 
object  attracted  his  host's  attention. 

"  I  see  now  what  you  want.  How  soon  we 
forget  our  old  experience,"  he  said,  as  he  helped 
himself  Avith  his  finger  and  thumb.  "  We  use  no 
other  tongs  here  than  those  with  Avhich  nature 
has  furnished  us.  I  had  a  pair,  but  I  don't  well 
know  Avhat  has  become  of  them.  Pray  do  not 
give  yourself  the  trouble  of  fishing  for  your  sugar 
another  time  in  that  painful  manner." 

"  I  might  have  remembered  too,  how  very  ill- 
mannered  I  thought  my  brother  in  that  respect," 
said  Louis,  "  Avlicn  he  returned  home  after  his 
first  term." 

"  Had  you  a  brother  here  ?" 

"  I  have  a  brother  now  at  Cambridge,"  replied 
Louis. 

"  Have  you  any  friends  in  Oxford  ?  " 

"  A  few,  I  believe,"  replied  Louis :  "  two  in 
this  college." 


DASHWOOD    rillORY.  205 

"  And  who  may  they  be?" 

"  ]\Iy  cousin  Mr.  Digby,  tmd  Mr.  Hamilton." 

"Oil,  indeed;  Digby  is  your  cousin,  is  he?" 
said  Nevinson.  "  What  Hamilton  are  you  speak- 
ing of?  There  are  two  of  that  name, — William 
Hamilton  and  Edward,  who  has  graduated, 
and  lives  out  of  college  now.  He  is  studying 
the  law." 

"  My  friend's  name  is  Edward,"  said  Louis, 
eagerly ;  "  and  I  know  he  has  taken  his  degree. 
He  is  a  very  dear  friend  of  mine.  Do  you  know 
him?" 

"Very  little;  just  to  speak  to,"  replied  Ne- 
vinson ;  "  but  I  have  really  almost  coveted  his 
friendship,  though  I  am  generally  very  indepen- 
dent in  such  matters.  He  is  a  friend  wortli 
having,  ^Mortimer.  Of  course,  you  know  he  took 
a  double  first,  and  his  perseverance  and  industry 
liave  only  been  equalled  by  the  exemplary  manner 
in  which  he  has  passed  through  this  ordeal.  It 
is  one,"  he  added,  looking  at  Louis ;  "  and 
much,  I  am  sure,  depends  on  our  first  accpiaint- 
anccs  and  actions.  We  cannot  be  too  careful 
about  our  friends  at  Oxford;  I  am  glad  you  liave 
so  valuable  a  one." 

"Thank  you,"  said  Louis,  gratefully. 

A  little  more  was  said  about  Ilaniillon,  and 
pa.sscd  from  him  to  examinations,  chapels,  lec- 
tures, and  other  college  topics,  on  which  Louis 
M'as  naturally  anxious  to  gain  as  much  information 
as  [)ussiblc  in   the  time.     The  tea  was  at  length 


206  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

concluded,  and  the  scout  being  summoned,  cleared 
the  table,  and,  at  the  same  time,  informed  Louis 
that  his  missing  luggage  had  arrived,  again  hinting 
at  the  want  of  sheets.  Louis  rose,  and  afraid  of 
intruding  any  longer  on  the  hospitality  of  his 
kind  entertainer,  wished  him  good  evening ;  but 
Nevinson  would  not  hear  of  his  leaving  him,  and 
remonstrating  on  the  loneliness  of  the  project, 
made  him  promise  to  return  when  the  bedmaker's 
wants  were  supplied. 

Louis  was  not  long  absent,  deferring  his  general 
unpacking  for  a  later  period,  and  was  once  more 
installed  in  his  comfortable  seat,  while  his  new- 
friend  went  across  the  room  for  some  coals.  While 
he  was  on  this  errand,  Louis  took  up  one  of  the 
books  that  lay  on  the  smaller  table  near  him.  It 
was  a  treatise  on  chess;  and  not  having  much 
sympathy  with  that  game,  laid  it  down  again.  The 
next  proved  to  be  a  pocket  edition  of  Sophocles, 
which  bore  evidences  of  much  study.  This  was 
also  laid  down,  and  Louis  took  a  third,  which  proved 
to  be  a  neat  pocket  Bible,  full  in  every  direction 
with  little  scraps  of  paper,  scribbled  all  over.  A 
Concordance  lay  underneath  it.  Louis  closed  the 
sacred  volume  very  reverentially  without  any  fur- 
ther scrutiny,  but  a  thrill  of  warm  satisfaction 
came  over  him  as  he  saw  it  so  evidently  studied. 
Nevinson  saw  his  interest  in  the  volumes,  and  as 
he  finished  making  up  the  fire  and  sat  down  again, 
he  said, — 

"  You  don't  find  much  to  interest  you  there. 
Are  you  a  chess-player?" 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  20T 

"  Xo,  not  at  aW,"  said  Louis ;  "  I  scarcely  know 
the  moves." 

"  I  am  very  fond  of  it ;  it  is  a  noble  game/' 
replied  his  companion  :  "  and  we  all  want  recrea- 
tion sometimes.  You  are  fond  of  books  though,, 
I  fancy /"^  he  said. 

"  Very,"  replied  Louis. 

"Well,  I  think  that  is  the  best  of  all  tastes/' 
rejoined  his  new  friend. 

A  silence  ensued,  when  Louis  said  with  great 
feeling,  but  rather  timidly, — 

"  I  am  ven,'  glad  to  see  one  Book  here.  I  am 
sure  we  shall  be  true  friends ;  at  least,  if  you  will 
allow  mc  to  be  your  friend.'^ 

A  little  eoloiu'  mounted  into  Nevinson's  pale 
face.  He  looked  steadily  into  the  fire,  and  for 
a  few  seconds  Louis  thought  he  Avas  oflfended ; 
but,  hardly  had  the  thought  passed  his  mind, 
when  Nevinson  held  out  his  hand  with  a  sweet, 
frank  smile. 

"  I  must  warn  you,  though,"  he  said,  "  that 
you  must  not  judge  that  all  will  think  as  you  and 
I,  upon  whose  table  you  see  a  Bible ;  nay,  not 
even  if  it  be  full  of  notes.  They  may  only  be 
*  divinity  crams.'  You  know  a  certain  portion  of 
the  Bible  forms  a  part  of  our  examination." 

"  Yes,  but  you  had  prepared  me  before/'  said 
Louis ;  "  and  here,  where  I  expected  to  meet  none 
who  loved  the  things  I  am  sure  we  both  value, 
it  is  doubly  pleasant  to  find  my  first  acquaintance 
a  triiC  friend."    Both  were  silent  for  u  few  minutes. 


208  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

when  a  trampling  up  the  stairs  and  some  loud 
talking  attracted  Louis'  notice. 

''  What^s  that  ?  " 

"  Some  of  the  men  coming  to  their  rooms,  that's 
all/'  answered  Nevinson.  "  You  will  hear  this  at 
intervals,  with  a  little  extra  noise  in  the  quad  till 
nearly  twelve  o'clock  ;  therefore  you  must  not  be 
alarmed  if  you  are  woke  out  of  your  first  sleep  by 
a  view  hallo,  or  'forward,  there,  after  him!'  or  a 
noisy  scrap  of  a  song,  for  the  late  ones  will  be 
very  uproarious." 

The  footsteps  had  died  away  somewhere  over- 
head, when  the  scout  re-entered  to  ask  the  friends 
if  he  could  do  anything  more  for  either.  Neviu- 
son  replied  in  the  negative,  and  turned  to  Louis, 
inquiring  if  there  was  anything  he  wanted  further. 

"  I  thank  you,"  he  said,  hesitatingly ;  "  I  think 
not ;  you  have  shown  me  where  to  find  everything 
now.  Stay,  shall  I  not  want  a  gown  to-morrow? 
I  quite  forgot  that.     How  can  I  get  it  now?  " 

"  Oh,  I  dare  say  Harry  can  supply  that  want,'^ 
said  Nevinson.  "  Harry,  you  will  have  a  cap  and 
gown  ready  for  Mr.  Mortimer,  to-morrow."  Harry 
signified  his  assent  and  comprehension  of  the 
necessity,  and  disappeared. 

Another  hour  was  spent  very  cheerfully,  and 
the  more  Louis  saw  of  his  new  friend,  the  more 
he  liked  him.  There  was  a  boyish  frankness  and 
sweetness,  mingled  with  so  much  true  nobility  of 
character,  that  fascinated  Avhile  he  hardly  defined 
the  wherefore,  and  an  enthusiasm  which  delighted 


PASHWOOU    rUKJRY.  .-09 

Louis,  the  more  that  it  was  tempered  with  so  raueli 
anxiety  to  fulfil  his  duty.  At  half-past  uine  our 
hero  took  his  leave,  and  his  friend  would  accom- 
pany him  to  his  rooms,  to  see  that  all  was  right. 
Louis  found  a  bright  fire,  with  candles  on  the  table 
ready  to  light.  His  first  care  after  lighting  his 
candles  was  to  undo  his  grocery-box,  in  order  to 
procure  some  tea  for  l)reakfast.  The  cord  had 
been  already  removed ;  but  as  it  was  a  kind  of  deal 
packing-case,  carefully  nailed  down,  his  inexperi- 
enced hands  hardly  knew  how  to  open  it.  Nevin- 
son,  however,  here  came  to  his  relief,  and  forcing 
it  open  with  the  poker,  after  another  inquiry  if  he 
could  be  of  any  further  service,  and  inviting  him 
to  breakfast  with  him  the  next  morning,  wished 
him  good  night,  and  left  him  to  his  meditations. 
The  first  thing  Louis  thought  of  when  alone  was 
to  fasten  his  outer  door,  and  then  closing  the 
inner,  he  drew  his  chair  to  the  fire  and  opened 
his  Bible. 

Christian  reader !  when,  after  a  day  of  excite- 
ment, of  change  of  scene,  and  of  disturbance  of 
thought,  wiieu  perhaps  this  holy  book  has  been  so 
packed  away  that  you  have  not  been  able  to  reach 
it,  does  it  not  seem  very  sweet  to  look  upon  it 
again?  How  many  sweet  thoughts  are  rccaUcd 
by  the  sight — how  holy  is  that  still  hour  win  ii  you 
can  connnuue  with  its  precious  conteuts,  and  feel 
that  wlicrcvcr  you  are,  tliose  promises  are  yours, 
and  that  though — 

"  All  tilings  change,  Ho  chftDges  not." 
P 


210  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

Louis  lay  down  that  night  in  peace,  and  thank- 
fully remembered  the  unexpected  happiness  of 
finding  a  kindred  spirit ;  and  college  now  seemed 
to  wear  a  brighter  aspect.  He  thought  if  Nevin- 
son  could  walk  so  blamelessly  through  its  tempta- 
tions^ he  might  also. 

Every  one  who  knows  the  effect  of  so  new  a 
scene  on  so  excitable  an  imagination  as  that  of 
our  hero,  will  not  wonder  that  he  lay  awake  some 
time  after  he  retired  to  bed,  dwelling  over  and 
over  again  on  the  events  of  the  day ;  but  the  calm 
which  the  Word  of  God  had  given,  seemed  shed 
over  all,  and  at  length  he  sank  into  a  sweet  slum- 
ber. How  long  he  had  slept  he  knew  not,  when 
an  extraordinary  noise  roused  him  in  some  alarm, 
and  it  was  a  few  minutes  before  his  senses  re- 
minded him  of  the  caution  he  load  received,  and 
he  distinguished  the  hasty  trampling  of  feet,  and 
the  noisy  exclamations  of  some  late  revellers, 
who  had  "  knocked  in "  at  the  latest  possible 
minute. 

He  listened  with  the  curiosity  natural  to  his 
position,  but  could  hear  nothing  distinctly.  The 
noise  dispersed  gradually  in  various  directions,  a 
portion  coming  up  his  staircase,  and  at  last  con- 
centrating, as  far  as  he  was  concerned,  in  a  heavy 
trampling,  and  subsequent  laughing  and  singing 
in  the  next  room  to  his.  This  was  all  well  enough 
for  a  few  minutes,  but  Louis  naturally  began  to 
wish  for  a  cessation  of  it,  when  it  had  lasted  half 
an  hour.     But  in  vain  he  buried  his  head  in  the 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  211 

pillow,  and  turuecl  from  side  to  side  in  feverish 
attempts  to  renew  his  slumbers ;  the  noise  eon- 
tinued  with  very  little  diminution  till  two  o'clock, 
and  then  for  another  half-hour  the  occupants  of 
the  apartment  appeared  to  be  incessantly  walking 
about,  at  the  end  of  Avhich  time,  fairly  worn  out, 
our  hero  fell  asleep,  and  slept  till  he  was  roused 
a  second  time  by  a  tremendous  noise  at  the  head 
of  his  bed,  as  if  the  wall  outside  were  falling. 
He  started  up  and  listened.  Daylight  was  peeping 
through  his  window ;  a  little  more  rumbling  and 
the  noise  ceased.  There  was  nothing  more,  and 
he  ventured  to  lie  down  again,  after  ascertaining 
that  it  was  six  o'clock.  However,  it  was  now  too 
late  for  more  sleep,  and  he  presently  began  to  rise. 
When  his  toilette  was  partially  completed,  he 
heard  the  scout  in  his  sitting-room  commencing 
operations  for  his  comfort,  and  had  just  put  the 
last  touch  to  his  dress,  when  a  loud  "  Sir-r,''  with 
the  final  r  prolonged  to  an  indefinite  period, 
brought  him  to  the  door  of  his  room. 

"  Quarter-past  seven,  sir.  Chapel  at  eight,  sir. 
Gown  and  cap.     Breakfast  in  your  room,  sir  ?  " 

"  No,  thank  you,"  replied  Louis.  "  What  am  I 
to  pay  you  for  this  gown  V  " 

"  Oh,  sir !  gentlemen  always  pays  at  the  end  of 
term,  sir,"  replied  the  scout. 

Louis  said  nothing  more,  and  was  presently  left 
alone.  He  was  not  sorry  lie  had  so  much  time 
before  him,  for  he  could  occupy  it  well  till  the 
chapel  bell  began  to  ring,  when  arraying  himself 


212  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

directly  in  the  gown  provided  for  him,  and  with 
more  hesitation  placing  the  shabby  cap  on  his 
head,  he  sallied  forth  and  reached  the  chapel  door 
exactly  with  another  man  from  the  opposite  side 
of  the  quad. 

They  entered  together,  and  Louis  hesitatingly 
turned  to  the  stranger, — 

"  Can  you  tell  me  where  I  can  sit  ?  I  am  very 
fresh." 

"  You  are  one  of  the  very  few,  I  fancy,  that  like 
to  acknowledge  their  verdure,^'  replied  the  stranger, 
smiling.  And  leading  the  way  into  the  body  of 
the  chapel,  Louis  presently  found  himself  in  a 
convenient  seat,  and  after  asking  a  blessing  on  the 
morning  service,  he  opened  his  Bible,  which  he 
had  brought  in  with  him,  and  finding  out  the 
lessons,  endeavoured  to  fix  his  mind  on  them.  In 
about  ten  minutes  the  men  began  to  pour  in ;  then 
came  the  dons,  and  the  bell  ceasing,  a  young  man 
in  gown  and  cap  rushed  to  the  door  and  closed  it, 
just  as  an  undergi'aduate  pushed  in,  in  Avhom 
Louis  recognised  Frank  Digby. 

Louis  was  not  among  those  who  deemed  chapel 
a  "  bore."  He  would  gladly  have  hngered  behind 
the  rush  in  the  chapel,  when  the  prayers  were  over. 
Hardly  had  he  stepped  on  the  threshold  when  his 
cousin  arrested  him  with — 

"  So  Louis,  you  did  come  last  night  to  nestle 
under  the  wings  of  alma  mater,  till  she  considers 
you  ready  to  take  a  stall  in  the  wide  market  of  the 
world.   I  understand  you  have  been  in  a  quandary, 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  213 

and  took  refuge  witli  a  saint  at  last.     You  must 
come  and  breakfast  with  me  this  morning." 
"  I  thank  you,  I  am  engaged." 
"  Eh  'i     You^-e  not  lost  any  time ;  to-morroW;, 
then." 

"  I  sliall  be  very  happy,"  answered  Louis. 
Just  at  this  moment  a  servant  approaehed  Louis 
■with   a  message   from    !Mr.   L.,   inviting  him   to 
breakfast  with  him. 

"  AVhat  am  I  to  do?"  he  said,  turning  to  Frank. 
"  I  am  engaged  to  Nevinson." 

"  Under  the  circumstances,  he  must  excuse 
you,"  said  Frank. 

Louis  hastily  returned  a  proper  message  by 
Mr.  L.^s  servant,  and  tlien  ran  to  Nevinson's  rooms 
to  excuse  himself.  He  then  repaired  to  the  tutor's 
rooms  by  his  direction,  and  had  just  reached  them 
when  a  heavy  hand  was  laid  on  his  shoulder,  and 
turning  round,  to  his  inexpressible  delight  Hamil- 
ton's face  greeted  him. 

"  AVcll,  Mr.  Mortimer,  so  you  have  no  eyes  for 
an  old  friend,  now  you  are  a  man." 

"  My  dear  Hamilton,"  exclaimed  Louis,  joy- 
fidly;  "indeed  I  have  looked  everywhere  for  yon 
all  yesterday.  1  was  expecting  to  meet  you  some- 
where, and  could  not,  amid  the  sea  of  strange 
faces." 

"  For  a  good  reason,"  said  Hamilton,  with  a 
(|uict  smile;  "because  I  arrived  in  the  night. 
Louis,  you  are  sadly  tmdignificd;  I  am  afraid  you 
have  a  considerable  remnant  yet  of  boyhood  abont 


214  UASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

you.  These  are  raptures  quite  beyond  the  dignity 
of  an  Oxonian,  I  assure  you." 

"  I  do  not  care,"  replied  Louis,  laughing.  "  I 
hope  I  shall  never  be  ashamed  to  acknowledge 
that  I  am  glad  to  see  you.  I  shall  be  ashamed  of 
myself  then." 

"  Well,  whither  are  you  bound  ?  This  is  not 
the  way  to  your  rooms,  I  presume." 

Louis  informed  his  friend  of  his  destination, 
and  found  to  his  great  satisfaction  that  Hamilton 
was  to  be  of  the  tutor's  party.  Accordingly,  the 
two  friends  made  their  entrance  together.  There 
were  three  of  four  besides,  to  whom  Louis  was 
introduced,  and  much  pleasant  conversation  en- 
sued. Louis  was  pleased  to  see  the  evident  esti- 
mation in  which  his  beloved  friend  was  held,  and 
listened  with  much  pride  to  his  sensible  and  in- 
telligent remarks.  Hamilton  being  now  no  longer 
an  undergraduate,  having  taken  his  B.A.,  was 
located  in  lodgings  in  the  city ;  as  he  was  studying 
for  the  bar,  he  was  not  likely  to  leave  college  for 
a  year  or  two, — much  of  course  to  Louis'  satisfac- 
tion. The  other  young  men  present  were  all  of 
more  than  a  year's  standing,  and  were  reputed  to 
be  of  the  steadiest  reading  men  in  the  college. 
There  were  no  lectures  that  morning,  and  Hamil- 
ton suggested,  when  he  and  Louis  had  left  the 
tutor's,  the  propriety  of  a  walk,  and  making  some 
acquaintance  with  the  environs  of  Oxford.  It  was 
no  little  advantage  to  our  hero  to  have  so  sub- 
stantial a  friend,  especially  as  Hamilton  was  as 


UA^in\of)n  TRiouY.  215 

detcrmiucd  to  exercise  n,  surveillance  over  I.ouis 
here  as  lie  had  been  at  Ashfield  House.  Their 
conversation  for  some  time  during  their  walk 
turned  upon  manners  and  customs  at  Oxford ;  but 
as  they  emerged  from  the  immediate  precincts  of 
the  city,  it  insensibly  fell  on  their  old  school- 
fellows, many  of  whom  were  in  residence  there, 
or  had  just  left;  and  Hamilton  had  many  things 
to  relate  of  them,  which  were  very  interesting  to 
Louis. 

"  You  will  be  surprised,'^  he  said,  "  to  sec  what 
a  nice  fellow  Trevannion  has  grown.  Gentlemanly 
he  always  was,  but  he  is  really  fascinating  now. 
Old  Wykeham  says,  'Manners  raakctli  the  man;' 
if  so,  Trevannion 's  a  splendid  specimen  of  a  man. 
If  college  would  do  as  much  for  us  all,  Louis,  we 
should  have  reason  to  think  much  of  it ;  I  am 
sure,  however,  it  has  done  little  for  me  in  that 
respect.  I  am  as  uncivil  and  as  unceremonious 
as  ever,  and  care  even  less  than  ever  for  others' 
opinions ;  and  that,  I  believe,  is  what  we  all  learn, 
more  or  less,  as  we  grow  older  and  see  more  of 
tlic  world.  We  understand  the  worth  of  any 
man's  praise." 

"  Perhaps  so,"  said  Louis.  "  I  suppose  I  am 
hardly  old  enough  to  have  arrived  at  that  happy 
comprehension:  I  am  afraid  I  am  very  susceptible 
yet ;  and  you — you  have  worked  as  hard  as  if  you 
cared." 

"  That's  an  old  notion  of  duty,  Louis;  and  yet, 
perhajjs,  we  know  little  of  ourselves  when  we  say 


216  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

wc  are  indifferent  to  others'  opinions.  We  are 
very  dependent  on  one  another.  You  have  not 
heard  of  Clifton's  success^  perhaps?" 

"  Yes,  I  heard  of  it  in  the  summer ;  Mr.  Roy- 
ston  told  me." 

"  Do  you  know  that  Ferrers  was  one  of  the 
candidates,  and  besides  being  his  senior,  he  is  a 
two-year  man." 

"Do  you  know  Ferrers  now,  Hamilton?" 
asked  Louis. 

"  Well,  upon  my  word,  I  don't,  Louis  ;  I  never 
felt  inclined  to  renew  the  acquaintance.  He  never 
was  a  friend  of  mine,  and  his  cool  behaviour  of 
old  to  you  quite  disgusted  me.  He  is  very  steady, 
I  believe ;  at  least  I  hear  nothing  to  the  contrary ; 
but  there  is  something  about  him  that  alwaj^s 
repels  me." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  that,"  replied  Louis,  "  because 
you  would  do  him  so  much  good." 

Hamilton  made  no  reply,  and  presently  changed 
the  subject. 

"  So  Frank  Digby  's  migrated.  Some  people 
prophesied  truly." 

"  Unhappily,"  replied  Louis.  "  I  hope  all  will 
go  on  well  here  :  he  was  very  quiet  and  serious 
at  church.  I  think  Frank  has  many  right  feel- 
ings, Hamilton." 

"  Indeed  he  has,  Louis.  It  is  a  misfortune  for 
him  that  he  is  so  popular :  some  men  cannot 
understand  the  true  worth  of  such  popularity. 
I  suppose  you  know  that  Trevannion  is  now  a 


DASinVOOU    PRIORY.  217 

fellow  of ,  and  is  to  1)0  ordained  in  a  few 

months?" 

"  No,  I  did  not,"  answered  Louis ;  "  he  must 
have  worked  hard,  then.  Did  you  think  him 
clever?" 

Hamilton  smiled  significantly,  and  remarked  iu 
a  dry  tone, — 

"  I  always  thought  him  of  a  good  family.  All 
fellowships  don't  go  by  order  of  merit.  Re- 
member, you  are  engaged  to  my  lodgings  this 
evening,  Louis.  I  shall  have  Jones,  and  Trevan- 
nion  if  I  can  get  him,  to  meet  you  and  poor 
Frank.  I  nmst  look  after  him  a  little,  if  it  were 
only  for  poor  Vernon's  memory." 

This  was  said  as  Hamilton  bid  Louis  good  bye 
at  the  college  gates ;  and  Louis  was  just  entering 
them,  when  his  father's  voice  most  unexpectedly 
greeted  him.  3Ir.  Mortimer  had  hurried  to 
Oxford  as  soon  as  he  was  able,  in  order  to  save 
him  as  much  embarrassment  as  possible,  and  to 
see  that  his  arrangements  Avere  properly  con- 
ducted. Of  course,  all  previous  engagements 
were  now  suspended,  and  before  night  every 
desire  Louis  had  respecting  his  comforts  was 
amply  supplied,  even  to  the  new  carpet  and  piano. 

We  presume  our  readers  arc  by  this  time 
wearied  of  detail,  and  will  gladly  allow  us  to  pre- 
mise that  our  hero's  initiation  to  the  reguhir 
routini^  of  his  new  duties  duly  took  place,  that  the 
lecture-room  was  familiar  to  him,  and  tliat  ho 
mulerstood   how  unnecessarv  it  was  deemed  for 


218  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

him  to  sit  in  chapel  a  quarter  of  an  hour  before 
service  began ;  that  wine  and  breakfast  "  coaches" 
were  no  longer  so  many  mysteries,  and  that  all 
his  friends  had  properly  paid  their  respective 
calls.  Hamilton  was  installed  private  tutor  to 
him,  and  Trevannion,  now  arrived  at  the  bloom 
of  grace  and  manhood,  had  been  very  gracious  to 
his  old  schoolfellow  at  Hamilton's  rooms.  Nevin- 
son's  remark  on  the  necessity  of  choosing  first 
acquaintances  cautiously,  Louis  found  most  true ; 
for,  in  spite  of  Hamilton's  constant  cautions,  he 
had  more  idle  acquaintances  in  a  fortnight,  through 
Erank,  than  he  knew  how  to  manage;  and  the 
round  of  excitement  into  which  he  was  almost 
inadvertently  drawn,  before  long  thoroughly 
wearied  him,  and  he  longed  to  return  home.  He 
went  very  constantly  to  Hamilton  at  the  appointed 
times,  and  readily  joined  a  little  party  at  Nevin- 
son's  who  met  once  a  week  for  reading  the  Scrip- 
tures together.  This  was  his  great  safeguard ;  for 
in  time  the  giddy  and  worldly  grew  weary  of  his 
society,  and  left  him  to  his  own  chosen  associates, 
with  little  exception. 


DASHUOOD    PRIORV.  219 


CHAPTER  XV. 

"  Remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy." 
"  The  Sabbath  is  God's  gracious  present  to  a  working  world  ; 
and  for  wearied  minds  and  bodies  it  is  the  grand  restorative. 
The  Sabbath  does  not  arrive  like  sleep  :  it  does  not  entrance  us 
whether  we  will  or  not,  but  addressing  us  as  intelligent  beings, 
our  Creator  assures  us  we  need  it,  and  bids  us  notice  its  return, 
and  court  its  renovation." — Hamilton's  Oasis. 

The  Sabbath  was  made  for  man  :  for  man  to  use, 
but  not  for  man  to  abuse.  But,  alas  !  how  sadly 
is  the  Sabbath  slighted;  how  often  is  it,  according 
to  the  taste  and  habits  of  the  individual,  made 
either  a  day  of  idleness  or  secular  industry, 
of  worldly  care  or  worldly  pleasure,  regardless  of 
that  rich  promise  made  to  those  who  call  it  "  a 
delight:"  Holy  of  the  Lord!  that  they  shall 
''delight  themselves  in  Him." 

This  sacred  day  Louis  found,  was  that  most 
commonly  chosen  for  "breakfasts"  and  '•' wines;" 
not  that  the  parties  might  meet  to  speak  together 
of  the  things  belonging  to  the  Sabbath,  but  that 
they  might  the  more  uninterruptedly,  from  the 
greater  leisure,  seek  their  "  own  pleasure  ;"  thus 
reversing  the  order  of  things,  and  becoming  more 
frivolous  and  idle  on  this  ijlcsscd  day  than  on  that 
of  any  of  the  six  allowed  to  man  for  his  own. 
Well  might  tiie  prophet  plead  with  such,  "  "Will  a 


220  UASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

man  rob  God  ?  yet  ye  have  robbed  me :  and  ye 
say,  Wherein  have  we  robbed  Thee  ?  But  bring 
now  the  sacrifices  of  righteousness  to  the  store- 
house of  God's  love,  and  prove  Him  therewith, 
and  see  if  He  will  not  open  to  you  the  windows 
of  heaven,  and  pour  you  out  a  blessing,  that  there 
shall  not  be  room  enough  to  receive  it." 

Louis  had  once  been  betrayed,  through  igno- 
rance, into  joining  one  of  these  Sunday  parties  ; 
but  so  disturbed  was  he  at  the  manner  in  which  the 
day  had  been  desecrated,  that  he  firmly  resolved, 
nothing  should  again  induce  him  to  break  in 
upon  the  sanctity  of  the  time  he  had  been  from 
his  childhood  taught  to  hallow. 

For  two  or  three  weeks  he  had  avoided  the 
necessity  of  declining  invitations  by  engaging  him- 
self previously  to  Nevinson  or  Hamilton ;  but  at 
length  a  Sunday  arrived  Avhen  some  of  Hamil- 
ton's relations  were  with  him,  and  Louis  did  not 
feel  himself  sufficiently  intimate  with  Nevinson  to 
invite  himself  two  following  Sundays,  especially 
as  he  had  spent  the  Saturday  evening  with  him. 
He  had  risen  early ;  and  as  there  was  some  time 
before  chapel,  after  he  was  dressed,  he  sat  down 
to  his  piano,  and  quietly  played  some  favourite 
hymn-tunes  and  chants  ;  at  first  rather  timidly, — 
for  he  had  not  yet  quite  overcome  a  certain  fear 
of  being  overheard, — but  at  length  ventured  very 
softly  to  sing  the  words  of  one  or  two  hymns, 
gradually  forgetting  anything  but  his  own  plea- 
sure in  the  coming  of  the  sacred  day. 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  221 

When  the  bell  began  to  ring,  he  closed  his 
piano,  and,  breathing  a  mental  prayer  for  power 
to  remember  the  Sabbath  day,  went  into  the 
chapel,  for  the  pleasure  of  remaining  there  quietly 
alone  before  the  general  rush ;  and  Avhen  service 
"svas  over,  he  lingered  behind,  hoping  that  the 
quadrangle  would  be  nearly  clear  before  he  left 
the  chapel.  But,  to  his  chagrin,  he  found  Frank 
and  a  few  of  his  intimates  waiting  for  him  at  the 
door. 

"  You  will  come  with  me,  Mr.  Louis,  this 
morning,"  he  said :  "  I  really  believe  you  have 
kept  pui'posely  out  of  my  way.  Where  Averc  you 
last  night  ?  " 

Before  Louis  could  reply,  his  old  acquaintance 
Ford,  who  "  kept "  the  rooms  next  door  to  him, 
said, — 

"  Digljy  !  do  you  kno\\'  aught  of  the  heavenly 
sounds  that  saluted  my  ears  this  morning  ? — a 
faint,  fairy-like  murmur,  graduall}^  swelling  into 
enthusiasm.  Were  you  practising  the  ars  divina  ? 
or  was  St.  Cecilia  doing  honour  to  the  day  in 
proprid  persond  ?  " 

"  I !  "  said  Frank  ;  "  I  must  have  sung  in  my 
dreams,  if  I  sang  before  chapel." 

"  Ay,  perhaps  I  heard  it  in  mine,"  rejoined 
the  other,  —  "such  'divine  airs,' — such  'pious 
orgies ! ' " 

Louis  coloured,  but  made  no  remark,  and  by 
this  time  they  had  reached  Frank's  rooms.  Frank 
had  at  the  first  onset  seized  Louis'  arm.  and  now 


223  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

forcibly  pushed  him  into  the  room,  where  break- 
fast was  laid  with  all  the  inviting  paraphernalia 
incidental  to  such  repasts.  Louis  stopped  at  the 
door. 

"  No,  thank  you,  Frank ;  not  this  morning. 
Good-bye  for  the  present." 

"  Nay,  not  so  fast,"  said  Frank ;  "  why  not 
this  morning  ?  " 

Louis  would  have  evaded  an  answer,  but  his 
passage  was  obstructed  by  one  or  two  of  his 
cousin's  party,  who  were  standing  in  the  door- 
way ;  and,  with  a  little  hesitation,  he  replied, — 

*'  I  do  not  like  visiting  on  Sunday." 

Frank  released  his  hold  with  a  vexed  look. 

"  I  thought  you  had  got  rid  of  these  sancti- 
monious fancies,  Louis,"  he  said. 

"  I  hope  not,"  answered  Louis,  more  firmly 
this  time,  "  but  rather  that  they  will  be  greater." 

"  A  saint !  a  saint  ! "  exclaimed  one  of  the 
party,  as  he  flung  his  cap  behind  the  sofa,  and 
pushed  past  Louis, — "  St.  Cecilia  herself !  " 

Ford  lifted  his  cap  with  mock  reverence,  as  he 
made  way  for  Louis  to  pass. 

"  Sancta  Cecilia  !  ora  pro  nobis  !  " 

Frank  made  no  further  effort  to  detain  Louis, 
who  went  immediately  to  his  room. 

"I  did  not  know  the  saints  had  got  hold  of  your 
cousin,  Digby,"  said  one  of  Frank's  party,  as  he 
seated  himself  at  the  table ;  "  it  is  a  thousand 
pities ;  he  is  too  good  a  fellow  to  be  spoiled." 

"  He  is  a  good  fellow,"  said  Frank,  "  but  always 


DASHWOOI)    PUIOIIY.  225 

at  school  too  precise  in  some  things;  he  Avonld 
kill  his  hen  if  she  laid  an  egg  on  Sunday." 

A  laugh  followed  ;  hut  Frank  turned  the  sub- 
ject ;  and  whether  Louis'  firmness  had  had  any 
influence  avc  know  not^  but  he  insensibly  checked 
some  amount  of  frivolity  that  morning  by  his  own 
unusually  sedate  deportment. 

Louis  enjoyed  his  own  quiet  breakfast  exceed- 
inglvj  and  spent  liis  time  afterwards^  till  the  time 
for  attending  church,  in  reading  his  Bible  with  a 
commentaiy,  and  committing  a  chapter  to  me- 
mory, according  to  custom. 

At  church  he  met  Ferrers,  and  invited  him  to 
lunch  with  him.  There  had  been  hitherto  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  backwardness  in  Ferrers  to 
meet  Louis'  advances  half-way ;  he  pleaded  now, 
that  "  he  never  went  anywhere ;  he  had  not  a 
moment  to  spare." 

"  You  made  that  excuse  the  last  time  I  asked 
you,"  said  Louis ;  "  I  can  generally  very  well 
believe  it ;  but  to-day  you  cannot  be  very  busy ; 
and  though  it  is  Sunday,  there  is  no  reason  why 
wc  should  not  quietly  meet ;  we  may  be  able  to 
do  one  another  some  good.  I  do  not  like  Sunday 
visiting  generally,  but  I  hope  we  should  not  spend 
an  hour  or  two  amiss  together." 

"  You  will  do  me  good,  I  dare  say,"  said  Fer- 
rers, colouring;  "  but,"  added  he,  hesitatingly,  "I 
am  nearly  as  busy  on  Sunday  as  on  other  days." 

"  IIow?"  asked  Louis.  "  I  think  we  ought  to 
be  l)u^y  on  Sunday  in  one  way.     It  is  not  meant 


S24  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

to  be  an  idle  day,  but  we  sliould  not  be  industrious 
in  our  own  business ;  and  you  are  not,  are  you  ?" 

"  I  am  afraid  I  am,"  answered  Ferrers. 

"  You  must  come/'  persisted  Louis. 

Ferrers  said  no  more,  and  Louis  led  the  way,  and 
they  were  soon  quietly  seated  at  lunch  in  Louis' 
rooms. 

After  a  few  remarks,  Louis  turned  the  conver- 
sation on  the  sermon  they  had  heard  that  morn- 
ing; and  from  thence  he  passed  on  to  several 
texts  in  connection,  and  remembered  one  or  two 
little  anecdotes  in  confii'mation  of  what  he  sup- 
ported, referring  to  Ferrers  continually  for  his 
opinion.  Ferrers  said  as  little  as  he  conveniently 
<30uld,  and  now  and  then  the  conversation  flagged 
very  much,  for,  earnest  as  Louis  was,  he  found  it 
difficult  to  keep  it  up  alone.  At  last,  he  proposed 
that  they  should  read  a  chapter ;  and  his  compa- 
nion assenting,  and  leaving  to  him  the  choice  of 
a  chapter,  they  turned  to  the  fire,  and  read  the 
fifty-eighth  chapter  of  Isaiah.  Louis  made  a  few 
simple  remarks  on  some  passages  therein,  waiting 
at  intervals,  to  leave  Ferrers  room  to  suggest 
something.  The  latter,  however,  remained  quite 
silent,  and  sat  uneasily,  playing  with  the  corners 
of  the  Bible  he  held  in  his  hand. 

Louis  looked  curiously  and  sorrowfully  at  him, 
and  after  another  pause,  he  said,  "  The  last  verses 
are  very  striking  to  me ;  perhaps  I  have  been 
always  taught  to  consider  them  so.  '  If  thou  turn 
away  thy  foot  from  the  Sabbath,  from  doing  thy 


DAS II WOOD    PRIORY.  225 

pleasure  on  my  liolyday;  and  call  the  Sahbatli 
a  (lolight,  the  holy  of  the  Lord,  honourable ;  and 
shalt  honour  Him,  not  doing  thine  own  ways,  nor 
finding  thine  own  pleasure,  nor  speaking  thine 
own  words  :  then  shalt  thou  delight  thyself  in  the 
Lord  ! '  Oh  !  Ferrers,  it  is  comparatively  easy  not 
to  seek  our  own  pleasure  and  our  own  ways,  but 
not  to  speak  our  own  words,  how  difficult !  'My 
conscience  always  reproaches  me  at  the  end  of  the 
day,  even  when  I  have  been  most  careful.  The 
great  thing  is  not  to  think  our  own  thoughts,  for 
out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart  the  moutli 
speaketh.  Is  it  not  a  sweet  promise,  '  Then  thou 
shalt  delight  thyself  in  the  Lord  ! '  '  Blessed  is 
the  people  that  can  rejoice  in  Thee  ! '  "With  all 
the  hindrances  around,  and  our  tendency  to  de- 
light ourselves  in  other  things,  it  is  not  a  little 
thing  to  name  such  a  promise.  We  cannot  delight 
in  holy  things  unless  God  teaches  us.  It  seems  a 
parallel  passage  to  this  :  '  If  any  man  will  do  His 
will,  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine.'  Do  not  you 
think  so?" 

Ferrers  assented  reluctantly,  and  Louis  con- 
tinued : 

''  I  often  tliink  that  one  reason  why  our  land  is 
so  great  and  so  happy,  is  because  the  observance 
of  the  Sabbath  here  is  so  difl'erent  from  that  of 
the  continental  countries.  I  am  sure  a  great 
bh.'ssing  rests  on  the  remembrance  of  the  Sabbath 
both  in  countries  and  on  individuals.  I  should 
likv-  to  have  written  up  in  vwrx  house,  '  Remember 


226  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

the  Sabbath-day,  to  keep  it  holy.'  One  of  the 
greatest  charges,  you  will  remember,  against  the 
Jews  was,  that  they  neglected  this  commandment. 
The  Sabbath  was  given  for  a  sign  between  God 
and  man,  and  I  do  believe  by  this  sign,  His  people 
will  be  truly  known." 

"  But,  don't  you  make  a  Jewish  Sabbath  of  it  ?" 
said  Ferrers,  raising  his  eyes. 

"  I  think  not,"  answered  Louis.  "  The  Jews' 
was  a  strict  outward  observance,  but  the  Christians' 
is  more,  though  not  so  strict  in  that  which  makes 
it  a  bondage.  We  do  not  forget  that  the  Sabbath 
was  made  for  man,  but  yet  not  for  man  to  abuse ; 
for  man  to  pause  in  his  worldly  business ;  for  man 
to  commune  with  his  Maker,  to  meditate  on  His 
Word,  to  partake  of  the  bread  of  life,  and  to  deal 
it  to  those  who  are  perishing.  The  blessing  of 
this  precious  day  can  only  be  known  in  Eternity." 

Ferrers  did  not  show  any  sympathy  with  his 
friend's  earnestness,  and  Louis  felt  there  was  none. 
He  did  not  like  to  ask  him  how  his  own  Sundays 
were  spent,  but  he  could  very  well  form  an  esti- 
mate, from  the  manner  in  which  some  of  his 
studious  acquaintances  passed  their  time ;  some 
of  the  more  serious  deluding  themselves  with  the 
idea  that  getting  up  the  Greek  Testament,  reading 
Butler's  Analogy  and  Sermons,  and  Paley's  Evi- 
dences, and  searching  for  the  authorities  cited, 
was  a  very  laudable  and  proper  manner  of  passing 
the  day. 

"  I    cannot    see    it    quite    as    you    do,"    said 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  227 

Ferrers  :  " '  We  arc  not  under  the  law,  but  under 
grace.' " 

" '  Shall  we  then  sin,  that  grace  may  abound  ?' " 
eagerly  interrupted  Louis.  "That  very  reason, 
Ferrers ;  that  very  reason  will  make  a  gi-ateful  heart 
more  fearful  of  offending  the  tender  Giver  of  all 
grace.  It  is  quite  impossible  that  a  true  child  of 
God  can  wilfully  disregard  the  Sabbath.  It  will 
be  to  him  a  'dehght,'  'the  holy  of  the  Lord,' 
'  honourable,'  though,  alas  !  he  is  too  often  sore  let 
and  hindered  by  his  evil  nature." 

"  Still,  you  regard  it  as  a  command  that  will 
be  rewarded  or  punished,"  said  Ferrers.  "  And 
did  not  our  Sa\iour  bring  in  a  new  dispensation?" 

" '  He  came  not  to  destroy  the  law,  but  to  fulfil 
it,' "  replied  Louis.  "  lie  abrogated  the  law  as  a 
means  of  salvation,  because  man  could  not  save 
himself  by  keeping  it.  So  He  kept  it  Himself,  and 
bore  man's  punishment  for  the  broken  law,  that 
whoever  believed  in  the  finished  Avork  done  for 
Him  may  be  saved ;  and  then  when  this  faith  comes, 
lie  will  follow  the  steps  of  his  blessed  Master,  and 
endeavour  to  keep  the  law  as  strictly  as  his  im- 
perfect nature  allows  him  ;  as  devoutly  and  fear- 
fully as  if  his  salvation  depended  on  it ;  and  I  say, 
Ferrers,  he  is  not  a  child  of  God  without  that 
earnest  endeavour  to  keep  His  commandinents." 

"  Fearfully .?"  repeated  Ferrers.  "  Is  not  that 
against  your  own  creed  ?  *  He  that  fcarcth  is  not 
made  perfect  in  love,'  Mortimer." 

"  All,  that  is  the  spirit  of  bondage  which  tiicy 

r>  '> 


228  DASHWOOD    PRIOllY. 

have  who  vainly  think  heaven  is  to  be  won  by 
good  works ;  the  spirit  of  the  trnth-seeker  who  has 
not  yet  received  the  spirit  of  adoption,  whereby 
Ave  call  God  our  Father,  and  lean  upon  Him  as  a 
little  obedient  child,  who  would  not  willingly 
neglect  any  command  but  through  the  weakness 
and  forgetfulness  attendant  on  childhood  often 
falls  short ;  yet  the  father  loves  him,  and  the  child 
has  no  dread  of  his  parent.  But  'vhat  I  mean  by 
fearfully  endeavouring  to  keep  God's  commands 
is,  that  having  received  tiiis  grace,  feeling  and 
knowing  truly  the  stupendous  gifts  bestowed,  we 
are  fearful  of  bi-iuging  reproach  on  Him ;  we  are 
fearful  lest  His  face  should  be  turned  away,  even 
for  a  time ;  we  are  anxious  to  show  that  the  grace 
of  God  has  not  been  given  us  in  vain.  It  is  not 
because  we  can  save  ourselves,  that  we  are  to  work 
out  our  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling,  but 
because  the  great  and  mighty  God  so  graciously 
works  in  us  to  will  and  to  do,  of  His  good  plea- 
sure.^' 

"I  really  cannot  exactly  understand  how  you 
mix  up  faith  and  works  in  tlie  manner  you  do," 
said  Ferrers,  abruptly. 

"  It  seems  to  me  as  clear  as  noon-day,"  rejoined 
Louis,  quietly.  "  We  are  saved  by  faith,  Avhich  is 
the  gift  of  God;  and  this  faith  must  inevitably 
work  by  love.  Works  have  not  the  smallest  share 
in  our  salvation,  and  yet  wc  are  not  Christians 
without  them.  The  tree  is  known  by  its  fruits — 
the  Christian  is  known  by  his  works." 


D.vsiiwooi)  ruioKY.  2.'29 

"  And  yet  you  talk  of  rewards  and  promises." 
"  And  so  I  do.  There  are  many  rewards  and 
many  promises  for  duties  commanded,  but  not 
salvation.  In  the  text  we  have  just  read  is  one 
reward.  To  me  it  is  a  great  ore,  and  so  it  will  he 
to  every  one  who  sincerely  desires  to  rejoice  in  the 
Lord.  ;My  dear  Ferrers,  you  were  speakiupj  just 
now  of  the  abrogation  of  the  law  by  the  Lord's 
death  :  so  far  from  making  it  void,  lie  goes  deeper 
than  Closes.  A  sinful  thought  in  the  Gospel  is 
tlie  transgression  of  the  law,  and  surely,  difficult 
as  we  arc  in  persuasion  of  our  utter  sinfulness, 
we  must  all  plead  guilty  to  many  sins  of  thought. 
Our  Lord  says,  '  "Whosoever  therefore  shall  break 
one  of  these  least  commandments,  and  shall  teach 
men  so,  he  shall  be  called  the  least  in  the  kingdom 
of  heaven ;  but  whosoever  shall  do  and  teach  them, 
the  same  shall  be  called  great  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.'  But  I  know  God  must  teach  us  all  these 
things,  they  will  all  seem  clear  then ;  but  do  try 
to  remember  the  Sabbatli,  Ferrers,  and  see  how 
much  more  God  will  teach  you.  I  am  sure 
nothing  is  gained  even  in  worldly  concerns  by 
breaking  the  Sabbath;  and  think  what  you  owe 
to  Him  for  the  position  you  so  much  desired.  Is 
it  not  ungrateful  to  slight  any  known  com- 
mand ?  " 

Ferrers  made  no  reply,  and  Louis,  overcome  1)y 
his  own  feelings,  remained  silent  for  some  time, 
till  liis  eyes  fell  on  his  open  watch,  which  lay  ou 
the    table,    and  seeing  it    was    nearer    the    time 


230  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

of  afternoon  service  at  the  clmrcTi  than  lie  thought, 
he  rose,  threw  on  his  out-door  accoutrements,  and 
sallied  forth  with  his  friend  to  St.  Mary's. 

Louis  was  claimed  after  Hall  by  his  friend 
Hamilton,  and  the  evening  was  spent  quietly  and 
soberly  in  his  friend's  lodgings. 


-sJiii^^^r^i^Skisi)^— 


DASH^YOOD    PRIORY.  231 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

"  Chide  him  for  faults,  and  do  it  reverently, 
When  you  perceive  his  blood  inclined  to  mirth." 

Henry  IV.,  Second  Part. 

Time  rolled  on :  the  long  M'ished-for  vacation 
arrived  and  passed;  and  another,  and  another. 
Hamilton,  though  inflexible  at  Christmas,  j^elded 
at  last  to  Louis'  persuasions,  and  passed  part  of 
the  "long"  at  Dashwood  Priorj%  where  he  made 
liimself  an  universal  favourite,  and  won  golden 
opinions  from  Mrs.  Colthrop,  who  many  times 
expressed  her  satisfaction  that  "  Master  Louis  had 
so  solid  a  young  gentleman  to  tutor  him." 

Louis'  difficulties  respecting  the  demonstration 
of  his  principles  were  now  over.  He  belonged  to 
the  studious,  upon  whose  sacred  time  the  riotous 
dared  not  intrude ;  of  the  latter,  indeed,  he  saw 
l)ut  little,  except  now  and  then  at  his  cousin's 
rooms ;  but  Frank's  set,  though  idle,  were  not  of 
the  worst,  and  his  own  conduct  was  generally 
steady,  as  respects  college  rules.  He  never 
missed  chapel,  or  lectures ;  rarely  had  late  parties 
at  his  rooms,  and  had  on  no  occasion  been  out 
bcvfnid  hours. 


232  DASHWOOD    PRIOEY. 

Frank's  love  for  the  ludicrous  had  by  no  means 
forsaken  him,  though  for  some  time  he  seemed  to 
have  sufficient  sense  to  take  warning  by  the  situa- 
tion in  which  it  had  already  placed  him,  and  con- 
fined its  exhibition  to  his  private  friends,  and  to 
drawing  exact  caricatures  of  the  dons,  with  whom, 
nevertheless,  he  was  a  general  favomite.  We 
have  already  introduced  our  readers  to  one  of  the 
Fellows,  by  name  jNIr.  Royston,  the  mathematical 
tutor.  Mr.  Royston  was  a  very  inviting  subject 
for  Frank's  powers  of  imitation;  and,  (vere  the 
truth  told,  this  goodnatured  and  excellent,  though 
eccentric  man,  Avas  often  quizzed  by  his  facetious 
pupil.  But  though  fully  cognizant  of  the  fact, 
I\Ir.  Royston — who  had,  be  it  known,  a  keen 
sense  of  dry  humour — never  heard  his  own  voice 
Avhen  Frank  spoke  in  it,  nor  ever  saw  the  multi- 
plied sketches  of  his  profile  which  adorned  the 
scraps  of  paper  occasionally  left  in  the  lecture - 
room,  though  his  small  twinkling  eyes  had  often 
Avatched,  with  intense  amusement,  the  seven 
scratches  that  traced  it  on  the  handiest  surface 
near, — the  operation  being  sometimes  performed 
Avith  the  seal  end  of  a  pencil-case  on  the  green 
tablecloth,  with  an  exactitude  that  greatly 
charmed  his  fellow-students;  nor,  to  the  slight 
discomfiture  of  the  artist,  did  he  take  the  faintest 
notice  of  his  full-length  portrait  traced  Avith  a 
finger  on  the  damp  wall  one  morning,  exactly  in 
the  light  Avhich  met  his  eyes  Avhere  he  sat. 

How  it  was,  we  do  not  mean  to  guess;   but 


DASHWOOD    PRIOUY.  233 

Frank  seemed  to  liave  carried  the  old  man's  heart 
by  storm.  He  uatched  over  him  with  a  paternal 
care,  often  inviting  him  to  his  rooms^  stimulating 
his  studies ;  and  avIicu  Frank  changed  his  apart- 
ments, interested  himself  to  get  him  a  desirable 
set,  in  immediate  contiguity  to  his  own ;  for  which 
last  favour  Frank  Avas  veiy  ungrateful,  as  he  was 
obliged  to  be  so  quiet.  However,  when  there  was 
a  little  extra  noise,  Mr.  Royston  always  seemed 
deaf,  and  generally  invited  Frank  to  breakfast  the 
next  moniing,  to  hear  the  history  of  the  previous 
evening's  exploit.  Frank,  to  do  him  justice,  was 
not  wholly  insensible  to  the  kindness  of  the  "  old 
boy,"  as  he  irreverently  designated  him,  and  was 
always  ready  to  perform  any  little  service  for  him 
that  did  not  interfere  too  conspicuously  with  any 
of  his  own  pursuits. 

We  liavc  already  said  tliat  IMr.  Royston  was 
eccentric,  and  one  of  his  eccentricities  annoyed 
Frank  and  some  of  his  fellow  students.  He 
would  persist  in  wearing  a  very  old  coat,  some- 
thing between  a  great  coat  and  a  surtout,  which 
had  once  been  handsome,  and  for  which  lie  still 
possessed  an  immense  atiection,  because  it  had 
been  expensive,  and  was  very  convenient  as  a 
kettle-holder  and  pen-wiper;  and  not  confining 
the  exhibition  of  the  worn-out  habihment  to  his 
own  domicile,  he  further  exasperated  his  pupils 
by  occasionally  taking  a  turn  in  the  cloistei's  on  u 
wet  day.  3Iany  of  the  offended  had  at  diflcrenl 
times  vowed  vengeance  on  this  coat  ;    but  none 


234  DASHWOOD    PKIORY. 

had  yet  discovered  a  way  of  carrying  the  threat 
into  execution,  when  the  bright  wits  of  Frank 
Digby,  Esq.,  hit  upon  a  plan,  which  he  was  not 
long  in  communicating  to  those  among  his  friends 
who  were  occasionally  favoured  with  invitations 
to  Mr.  Royston's  rooms.  Frank  had  discovered 
that  the  doomed  coat,  when  not  in  use,  always 
hung  behind  a  green  curtain,  in  a  recess  in  the 
outer  room ;  and,  bent  upon  his  scheme,  it  was  not 
long  before  he  and  his  accomplices  found  means 
for  its  prosecution.  Their  operations  consisted, 
on  every  available  opportunity,  of  carefully  cut- 
ting two  threads  from  the  skirt  all  the  way  round, 
which  in  consequence  insensibly  diminished  in 
length  in  the  com-se  of  time.  Opportunities  being 
often  few  and  far  between,  three  terms  and  one 
long  vacation  passed  before  the  habit  began  to 
shrink  to  any  sensible  degree;  and  the  first  full 
intimation  the  owner  had  of  the  scarcity  of  his 
tails,  was  on  an  occasion  public  enough  and 
ludicrous  enough  to  satisfy  the  revenge  of  the 
mischievous  plotters,  though  the  principal  actor 
in  the  "  fun  "  afterwards  acknowledged  it  was  too 
bad;  but  we  will  let  our  tale  tell  its  own  moral. 

Mr.  Royston  was  possessed  of  much  mathema- 
tical talent,  and  withal  that  strong  mechanical 
taste  which  is  not  unfrequently  joined  thereto. 
In  his  earlier  career  he  had  made  it  the  recreation 
of  some  years  to  construct  a  telescope,  an  elec- 
trical machine,  and  air-pump,  of  no  mean  preten- 
sions ;  and  having  found,  to  his  great  satisfaction. 


DASHWOOD    PIUOKY.  235 

that  his  protege  was  capable  of  appreciating  their 
vahie  and  uses,  they  were  occasionally  drawn  upon 
for  part  of  an  evening's  entertainment.  One 
evening,  as  they  were  replacing  the  electrical 
machine  behind  a  large  green  curtain,  drawn 
across  a  recess  near  the  outer  door  of  the  outer 
room,  Mr.  Royston  made  a  little  remark  on  the 
shabbiness  of  the  framework,  particularly  point- 
ing to  Frank's  notice  a  recent  fracture  in  one 
corner  of  the  stand,  which  he  had  just  mended 
with  a  patch  of  deal. 

"  It  wants  pointing  afresh  :  it  ought  to  have 
been  mahogany,"  he  said. 

Frank  agreed,  and  expressed  his  surprise  that 
any  other  wood  should  have  been  chosen  for  the 
frame;  and  Mr.  Royston  laughingly  pleaded  the 
softness  of  the  wood  for  amateur  hands.  "  It  is 
an  idle  excuse,"  he  added ;  and  then,  after  expa- 
tiating a  little  on  his  skill  of  yore  in  the  mysteries 
of  carpentering,  the  apparatus  was  restored  to  its 
niche,  and  Frank  having  oflercd  his  services,  if 
required,  took  his  leave,  with  an  assurance  from 
the  gentleman  that  they  should  be  demanded  on 
the  first  opportunity. 

One  winter  evening,  a  few  days  after  the  above- 
mentioned  visit,  Frank  was  alone  in  his  room. 
He  had  wheeled  his  table  to  within  almost  a 
scorching  contiguity  with  the  fire,  and  sitting  on 
a  chair  at  its  head.  Ids  feet  resting  on  the  claw, 
he  pored  listlessly  over  a  copy  of  the  Ethics  of 
Aristotle,  looking  now  and  then  most  idly  into  a 


236  DASHWOOD    PKIOKY. 

lexicon  at  his  elbow.  Presently  he  jumped  up, 
stirred  tlie  iire  into  a,  blaze,  and  sitting  on  the 
edge  of  the  table  looked  at  it  for  a  few  seconds, 
then  at  his  watch,  and  finally  threw  himself  anew 
into  his  chair  with  a  lond  yawn. 

"  It's  dry  w^ork,"  he  said,  aloud  ;  "  I  must  talk 
to  myself  for  company.  I  wonder  what  business 
Cox  has  to  sport  his  oak  to-night.  How  studious 
all  the  fellows  have  become  \" 

He  I'cad  a  few  minutes  longer,  and  tlien  leaned 
back  again  in  his  chair,  to  recover  from  his 
fatigues. 

"  I  wonder  what  business  composition-candles 
have  with  long  snuffs ;  that  puts  me  in  mind  of 
the  old  class-room." 

Then  another  long  yawn,  concluded  with, — 

"  I  wish  Pickwuck  were  new.  What  did  Ford 
mean  by  running  off  with  the  third  volume  of 
that  book  ?  I  wasn't  made  for  a  brother  of  La 
Trappe." 

Another  yawn,  and  Frank  shoved  both  hands 
into  his  pockets,  and  gazed  with  watery  eyes  on 
the  ceiling. 

"  Wonder  what  Louis  is  about.  I  won't  plague 
myself  about  that."  Then  an  idle  smile.  "  I 
wonder  when  the  old  boy  is  going  to  paint  his 
machine.  I  dare  say  he'll  want  me  Avhen — Eh  ? 
come  in." 

His  soliloquy  was  cut  sliort  by  the  entrance  of 
his  old  fi-iend. 

"  ]\Ir.  Digby,  are  you  very  busy  to-night  ?  Ah, 


Frank  soliloqoisinj;. 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  237 

I  sec,  very  busy.  It's  a  pity  to  disturb  your 
studies  ;  another  night  will  do." 

"  I  have  quite  done  for  to-night,  sir/'  said 
Frank,  answering  the  twinkle  of  the  old  gentle- 
man's eye  witli  another  as  dry. 

"  Anything  I  can  do,  sir  ?  Have  you  got  the 
paint  ?    I  was  just  thinking  about  the  macliiiie." 

"  Well  then,  the  machine 's  the  business ;  so 
you  come  in  when  you  have  left  all  safe,  if  you 
have  quite  done,  and  we'll  commence." 

"I'll  be  with  you  in  a  minute,  sir,"  replied 
Frank,  flying  to  open  the  door,  and  then  coming 
back  to  shove  his  table  and  chair  to  a  safe  distance 
from  the  fire. 

"  Bravo  ! "  he  said ;  "  very  well  done.  I  wonder 
the  old  boy  doesn't  see  how  short  his  toga  is 
getting  !  that  which  comes  gradually  upon  us  we 
don't  feel  any  inconvenience,  as  Aunt  Huntley 
said  of  father's  large  family." 

He  blew  out  the  candles,  and  packing  up  the 
fire  to  last  till  his  return,  luirried  to  the  tutor's 
rooms,  where  he  found  arrangements  had  been 
made  on  a  grand  scale  for  the  projected  business. 
An  old  cloth  had  been  laid  on  the  large  table  in 
the  outer  room,  and  on  this  was  placed  the  shabby 
machine.  On  a  chair  near  the  fire  waij  a  kind  of 
cabinet,  not  unlike  a  medicine-chest,  with  labelled 
drawers  and  l)ottlcs;  and  an  iron  saucepan,  war- 
ranted to  hold  a  pint  and  a  half,  stood  on  the  floor 
near.  One  or  two  large  white  gallipots,  a  saucer, 
and  two  half-pint  Ijottles,  one  containing  lins^ccd- 


238  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

oil  and  the  other  turpentine,  stood  by  the  machine^ 
on  the  large  table ;  and  a  mixing-knife^,  a  couple 
of  new  brushes,  and  a  teaspoon  completed  the 
tableau. 

Prepared  as  Frank  was  for  paint-pots  and 
brushes,  he  was  at  a  loss  to  understand  the 
meaning  of  these  symptoms ;  and  it  was  not  till 
informed  by  Mr.  Royston,  that  he  understood 
that  they  were  not  only  to  paint,  but  to  make 
their  own  materials. 

"  I  am  not  very  fond  of  the  smell  of  paint, 
Mr.  Digby.  And  then,  you  see,  we  can  make 
our  own  quantity;  and  not  have  the  wasted 
residue  hardening  on  the  sides  of  the  pots,  till 
pots  and  all  must  be  thrown  away." 

Frank  expressed  his  great  willingness  to  assist, 
and,  with  an  air  of  urgent  importance,  began  to 
handle  the  bottles  and  saucepan,  ^Avith  a  great 
clatter  and  an  inward  sense  of  helpless  ignorance 
as  to  their  uses.  His  coadjutor  stood  looking  at 
him  with  the  most  perfect  gravity,  till  Frank, 
having  carried  the  saucepan  to  the  fire,  and  placed 
two  gallipots  and  the  bottle  of  oil  on  the  mantel- 
piece, stood  still  and  looked  at  him.  Their  eyes 
met. 

"  Well,  sir  ?  "  said  the  tutor ;  "  very  avcII  done. 
Now  we  had  better  lose  no  time." 

Frank  coloured  with  suppressed  laughtei",  but 
answered  almost  immediately, — 

"  It's  your  turn  now,  sir." 

Mr.  Royston  brought  two  more  gallipots  with 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  239 

three  paper  packets  from  the  chest,  and  placed 
tlicni  by  Frank's  trophies  -with  the  utmost 
stoUdity,  and  then  stood  still  once  more.  Frank 
fairly  lauglied  now. 

"  Uraph  !  :Mr.  Frank/'  said  the  gentleman,  who 
often  dropped  Frank's  surname  when  alone  with 
his  pupil ;  "  our  work  won't  go  on  very  fast  at 
that  rate,  and  the  pan,  perhaps,  will  get  burnt,  so 
close  to  that  great  coal.     Suppose  you  begin." 

"  Suppose  I  hold  the  saucepan  while  you  mix," 
said  Frank. 

!Mr.  Royston  shook  his  head  and  muttered 
something  to  himself,  as  he  went  again  to  the 
medicine-chest  and  took  out  another  paper. 

"  Well,  ;Mr.  Frank,  we  sliall  have  to  mix  some 
■white  lead  in  this  saucer." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  licre  is  the  turpentine,"  replied 
Frank,  with  an  indistinct  recollection  of  the  scent 
of  turpentine  connected  wdth  house-painting. 

"Come,  come,"  said  Mr.  lloyston;  "pretty 
paint  I  should  have,  if  you  were  mixer,  I  see," 

He  hastily  laid  the  white  lead  on  u  chair,  and 
removed  the  saucepan. 

"  Iron  will  burn,  Mr.  Digby." 

"AVhat's  to  be  done,  then?"  asked  Frank. 
"Are  you  going  to  mix  up  all  the  contents  of 
those  papers  with  the  oil?" 

"  Ay,  ay  ;  please  to  put  them  down,"  exclaiinod 
tlie  old  man.  "The  tiret  thing  is  to  boil  the 
oil." 

"  Tlien  here  goes,"  said  Frank,   emptying  the 


240  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

oil  into  the  pan.  "  Now  then,  does  some  turpen- 
tine go  with  it?" 

"  I  shall  have  some  mischief  done  ! "  exclaimed 
Mr.  Royston,  running  away  a  few  feet  from 
Frank,  Avho  threatened  to  mingle  the  contents  of 
the  oil  and  turpentine  bottles.  Nothing  but  oil ; 
now  you  do  as  you  are  bid,  sir.  Now  you  see," 
he  added,  as  he  took  the  turpentine  from  Frank's 
hand,  placed  it  on  another  chair,  and  then  put  the 
saucepan  on  the  lire  :  "  The  white-lead  is  to  be 
mixed  v»dth  oil,  but  we  must  boil  the  oil  first,  or 
the  paint  will  never  dry." 

''  Is  it  to  be  painted  white  ?  "  asked  Frank. 

"White! — no;  white-lead  is  the  foundation; 
we  must  mix  that  with  every  and  any  colour  you 
want.  We  shall  mix  it  with  the  yellow-ochre  iu 
this  instance." 

"  It  is  to  be  satin-wood  ingrained,  then  ?"  sug- 
gested Frank. 

A  little  grvmt  from  Mr.  Royston  was  the  only 
answer,  and  Frank  read  aloud  the  names  writtei:. 
on  the  papers  on  the  mantelpiece. 

"  Yellow-ochre,  Yandyke-brown,  rose-pink,  red- 
lead." 

"  It  will  look  very  handsome,  won't  it  ?  "  re- 
marked Mr.  Royston. 

"  Fm  in  a  hurry  to  get  to  the  brushing,"  said 
Frank,  nearly  poking  his  head  into  the  chimney- 
to  look  at  the  oil.  He  drew  it  back,  as  Mv. 
Royston  called  out, — 

'^  Come,  now,  we  must  have  some  red-lead  iu 


UASHWOOI)    I'KIOKY.  241 

tlio  oil ;  that's  the  paper  near  you,  ^Ir.  Frank  ; 
there's  a  teaspoon  on  the  tal)le.  Xow  then/'  he 
continued,  as  Frank  brought  it;  "a  few  teaspoon- 
fuls  of  that, — not  the  whole  quarter  of  a  pound." 

'•  I  think  I  did  that  cleverly,"  said  Frank. 
•' AVhat  is  the  use  of  that  ?  " 

"  To  assist  in  the  drying  process.  There,  we 
shan't  want  any  more  of  that  paper  just  now  ;  put 
it  down  anywhere, — on  that  chair.  Mustn't  mix 
the  papers,  it  would  spoil  our  ingrained  mahogany, 
eh?  Never  mind  holding  the  saucepan  ;  it  Avon't 
boil  over  just  yet;  it  absorbs  a  great  deal  of  latent 
lieat." 

While  the  gentlemen  stood  awaiting  the  oil's 
pleasure,  Mr.  Iloyston  described  to  Frank  the 
process  of  mixing  the  paint ;  and  they  had  passed 
ver}'  successfully  through  the  lead  and  yellow 
ochre  to  the  turpentine,  when  a  knock  at  the  door 
disturbed  the  train  of  their  ideas,  and  almost  upon 
the  knock  a  stout  elderly  gentleman  marclicd  in, 
buttoned  up  to  the  chin. 

'Eh,  Royston ! "  he  exclaimed,  in  a  hearty 
voice,  "  still  at  the  old  story.  Ah  ! — 'Spirits  red 
and  spirits  grey,^  miughng " 

'•  Umph  ! — why — so  it  is,"  rejoined  the  tutor, 
after  a  keen,  quick  look. 

Tiicn  followed  a  hearty  shaking  of  hands,  and 
a  few  more  equally  hearty  words  between  the 
apiiarently  old  friends.  Frank  was  doubtful  about 
the  propriety  of  remaining;  but  the  oil  kept  him 
still  at  his  post,  when  Mv.  Koyston,  in  his  great 


242  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

zeal  to  clear  a  chaii'  for  Lis  visitor,  seized  the  end 
of  the  red-lead  paper,  and  scattered  its  contents 
on  the  seat;  and  Prank  darted  forward,  hand- 
kei'chief  in  hand,  to  remedy  the  accident. 

"  No,  —  no  handkerchief ;  it's  poison,'^  cried 
Mr.  Eoyston ;  "  here's  a  piece  of  paper ;  clear  the 
other  chair,  or  hring  another  up,  will  you  ?" 

But  while  Frank  was  accomplishing  this,  ]Mr. 
Royston  darted  to  the  fire  with  an  exclamation, 
seizing  hold  of  the  handle  of  the  saucepan ;  but 
the  length  of  time  it  had  been  on  the  fire  had 
heated  it  to  an  uncomfortable  temperatm'e,  and 
he  had  recourse  to  his  coat-tails,  now,  alas !  too 
short  to  perform  their  wonted  office.  He  puffed, 
and  endeavoui'ed  vainly  to  pull  them  round  suffi- 
ciently to  shield  the  whole  of  his  hand.  The  fire 
had  caught  the  oil. 

"  Ay,  Digby  !  the  chimney 's  on  fire  ! — ay  !  " 

Prank's  hands  were  full.  A  glance  revealed 
the  state  of  things,  and  the  glance  instantly  deter- 
mined his  course  of  action.  Throwing  bottle  and 
papers  on  the  table,  he  rushed  out  of  the  room  to 
one  or  two  of  his  nearest  friends,  amongst  whom 
was  Louis. 

"  Your  brown  Georges  ! — water-jugs  ahoy  !  — 
The  tutor's  chimney 's  on  fire,  Louis ;  bring  a 
blanket  and  your  water-jug.  ]Mr.  Royston's 
room's  on  fire  ;  the  college  Avill  be  burned  down  ! 
Come,  quick ! " 

The  summons  was  instantly  obeyed  by  all, 
Louis  believing  the  danger  implicitly, — as  did  one 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  213 

or  two  others ;  and  they  who  suspected  a  joko 
followed  not  less  readily,  and  arrived  en  masse, 
just  as  ^Ir.  Royston,  in  despair  between  his  hands 
aud  the  real  danger  that  threatened  the  chimney, 
was  running  away  with  the  saucepan  behind  him, 
having  turned  his  back  to  the  fire,  and  taken  hold 
of  the  heated  handle  as  he  best  might.  It  was  not 
done  too  soon  :  a  small  quantity  of  the  boiling 
oil  had  reached  the  fire,  and  a  furious  and  alarm- 
ing blaze  was  roaring  up  the  chimney,  while  the 
rest  of  the  inflammable  fluid,  blazing  brilliantly 
behind  the  tutor,  was  running  over  on  the  carpet, 
threatening  to  scald  severely  the  feet  of  the  un- 
successful experimenter.  This  apparition  of  the 
strange  flying  meteor  was  more  than  those  among 
Frank's  friends  who  were  in  the  secret  could 
stand,  and  they  rushed  precipitately  out  of  the 
room.  Frank  alone,  with  an  unmoved  counte- 
nance, advanced  and  emptied  his  jug  on  the  fire. 
Poor  ^Ir,  Royston  did  not  seem  to  know  exactly 
what  to  do  with  his  saucepan,  and  the  blazing 
state  of  its  overflowing  contents  deterred  his  friend 
from  offering  assistance  at  first.  Frank  was  the 
first  to  approach  him;  but  the  tutor,  abruptly 
rejecting  his  assistance,  turned  round  to  face  the 
intruders,  while  the  new  comer,  venturing  to 
release  him  from  the  nearly  emptied  pan,  turned 
it  upside-down  on  Frank's  brown  jug. 

All  this  passed  more  rapidly  than   jien  could 
describe  ;    and   ]\Ir.  lloyston   being  at  IcMigth  at 
liberty  to  speak,  faced  poor  Louis,  tlic  only  ono 
r3 


244  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

of  the  party  now  remaining,  who  was  standing 
with  blanket  extended  in  both  hands,  looking  on 
in  undisguised  vexation. 

"  Hey-day,  young  gentlemen !  and  what  may 
you  want,  if  you  please  ?  " 

"The  chimney,  sir, —  the  chimney,  sir, — you 
said  the  chimney  was  on  lire,"  said  Frank,  mo- 
destly ;  "  there  was  no  time  to  lose." 

Mr.  Royston  looked  very  hard  at  Frank,  with 
lips  tightly  compressed. 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  sir,"  said  Louis ;  "  I  believed 
it  was  very  urgent,  sir." 

"  And  I  believe  you,  Mr.  Mortimer,"  said  Mr. 
Royston,  kindly ;  "  but  we  don't  need  the  blanket, 
thank  you." 

Louis  retired,  and  Frank,  placing  the  saucepan 
inside  the  fender,  began  to  rake  out  some  of  the 
blackened  ashes. 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Digby,  that  will  do,"  said 
Mr.  Royston,  politely. 

Frank  took  the  hint,  and  withdrew  to  laugh 
with  his  friends,  and  the  gentlemen  were  left 
alone. 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  lloyston,  seating  himself; 
"  it's  a  failure.  I  think  the  best  thing  I  can  do, 
will  be  to  clear  away,  and  send  for  another  pot  of 
paint  some  day,  ready  made." 

He  rubbed  his  burnt  hands,  and  looked  ruefully 
at  the  fire,  now  slowly  recovering  from  the  deluge 
of  water  Frank  had  poured  on  it,  and  then  his 
eyes  met  his  friend's,  and  by  mutual  consent  they 


DASHWOOD    I'iUOKV.  245 

burst  into  a  roar  of  laughter,  no  less  hearty  than 
that  of  the  authors  of  the  misfortune.  ^Ir. 
Royston  laughed  on  for  several  minutes,  and  then 
wiping  his  eyes,  as  if  a  sudden  thought  had  struck 
him,  he  began  to  cxranine  his  coat,  and  after  a  care- 
ful survey  looked  up  again,  Avith  a  very  significant 
"  Umph — well,  it  was  very  shabby." 

"There  is  something  more  nnderneatli,"^  said 
his  friend  inquiringly. 

"  I  suspect  so,"  replied  the  tutor.  "  A  little 
accident  to-night  has  let  jne  into  the  secret  of  this 
affair.  Pretending  to  help,  indeed — that  young 
scamp  with  the  nice  face  and  dark  wavy  hair,  who 
drowned  my  fire,  is  at  the  bottom  of  it.  My  old 
coat  gave  great  offence,  I  know ;  but  he's  the  only 
one  that  could  get  hold  of  it.  Umph,  Mr.  Digb}-, 
I  am  afraid  you  are  incorrigible." 

'•  I  believe  you  are  not  burnt.  You  have  been 
so  mcriy  I  forgot  that,"  said  his  friend. 

'•  Xo,  thank  you.  The  saucepan  handle  was  a 
little  hot,  but  that  will  go  off  in  an  hour  or  so. 
But  seriously,  this  is  not  a  little  escape.  Some  of 
us  might  have  been  worse  off.  I  thank  God  no 
hurt  is  done." 

He  remained  reverentially  silent  for  a  few 
minutes,  when  his  friend  asked, — 

"  But  what  has  that  young  fellow  been  doing, 
ch?  something  to  your  coat,  besides  bringing  all 
his  friends  into  tiie  row  ?  " 

"  Why,  he  has  been  cutting  my  coat  shorter, 
somehow.     It  must  have  been  verv  jrraduallv.     1 


246  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

fancied  it  used  to  be  longer  this  very  evening — it 
certainly  used  to  come  dov.ii  to  here.  I  warrant  I 
can  find  out.  I  know  enough  to  tax  him  with  it — 
and  my  servant  will  soon  get  the  rights  of  it." 

"  I  hope  he  will,"  said  the  gentleman,  rather 
sternly.  "  It  is  a  sad  piece  of  disrespect,  that 
ought  not  to  be  passed  over.  He  deserves  to 
feel  it." 

"  Umph  !  "  said  the  old  man.  "  I  might  do 
him  an  ill  turn  perhaps,  some  day ;  I  might  bring 
a  few  old  tales  to  bear  ;  and  I  might  perhaps  get 
him  rusticated ;  but  where  would  be  the  good,  sir  ? 
Ah,  Jenkins ;  youug  spirits  will  soon  go — I  won't 
sadden  them.  Let  him  do  as  he  likes.  1^11  have 
him  yet.  He  has  a  kind  heart,  and  never  plays 
his  pranks  when  he  fancies  I  have  anything  like 
a  headache.  Poor  fellow !  He'll  repent  it  yet, 
or  I  don't  know  him." 

"  It  is  a  happy  thing  for  him/'  said  his  friend, 
"  that  he  has  fallen  into  such  tender  hands." 

"  It  is,  perhaps,"  said  Mr.  Roystou,  with  a  little 
grunt.  "  Well,  sir,  time 's  very  short.  We  have 
very  little  of  it  to  show  kindnesses  to  one  another — 
and  he'll  remember  a  kindness  long  after  the  queer 
old  boy 's  head's  laid  low." 


DASHAVOOD    TRIORY.  247 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

**  He  that  believeth  shall  not  make  haste." — Is.  xxviii.  16. 
•'  Who  hath  despised  the  day  of" small  things?" — Zech.  iv.  10. 

Louis,  now  established  a  steady  member  of  the 
reading  men  of  liis  co11c;j:c,  and  supported  and 
stimulated  by  his  friend  and  tutor  Hamilton,  bid 
fair  to  pass  through  his  university  career  very 
creditably,  if  not  with  any  remarkable  honours. 
My  readers  will  imagine  that  he  passed  his  "  little 
go "  very  satisfactorily,  notwithstanding  his  ner- 
vous trepidation  beforehand.  A  little  before  this 
event  took  place,  while  the  young  tutor  was  look- 
ing over  a  translation  of  his  pupil's  from  a  chorus 
in  Antigone,  after  Louis  had  been  standing  for 
the  twentieth  time  a  cross-examination  on  Euclid 
and  Whatelcy's  Logic,  he  suddenly  rose  from  his 
chair,  paper  in  hand,  and  laying  it  on  the  mantel- 
piece, studied  it  attentively  for  a  few  minutes,  then 
stirring  the  fire  with  a  decision  and  rapidity 
■which  Louis  knew  betokened  the  coming  delivery 
of  a  weighty  opinion,  turned  round,  gathered  up 
his  coat-tails,  and  commenced  as  if  his  mind  were 
filled  with  an  idea. 

"  Louis  ! " 

"  Yes  ;    what  is  it  ?      You   disaj)prove  of  that 


248  DASHWOOD    PKIORY. 

beautiful  poetical  efFusiou^  as  sober  Mr.  Phillips 
used  of  my  odes,  plain  matter-of-fact  Hamilton/' 
said  Louis,  smiling.  "  "Well,  never  mind ;  I  will 
give  you  some  very  staid  prose  next  time.'^ 

"  You  are  a  bad  guesser/^  said  Hamilton, 
smiling  in  his  turn.  ''  I  am  afraid  the  reaction 
Avill  be  too  great,  if  I  tell  you  what  I  was  think- 
ing of:  I  had  better  be  silent." 

"  Nay,  now,"  said  Louis,  "  if  it  be  praise,  make 
me  happy." 

A  flush  of  pleasure,  like  an  old  school  look, 
passed  over  Hamilton's  face.  He  paused  a  minute, 
and  advancing  a  step  or  two,  he  laid  the  paper  on 
the  table. 

"That  chorus,  Louis,"  he  said,  emphaticalh^, 
"  is  not  only  tolerable,  it  is  beautiful ;  and  I  am 
a  fastidious  judge." 

"  My  dear  Hamilton,"  said  Louis,  in  a  tone  of 
incredulity  and  expostulation. 

'■  I  am  not  joking,"  said  Hamilton.  "  Were 
I  to  give  that  to  any  jvidge  of  poetry,  he  would 
say  the  same,  depend  upon  it." 

Louis  looked  still  rather  incredulous,  and  Ha- 
milton continued — 

"  Now  you  may  believe  me,  Louis ;  I  am  not 
too  partial  to  you ;  I  scold  you  enough,  you  know, 
and  laugh  at  you  too,  and  have  done  so  for  so 
many  years,  that  I  am  afraid  I  shall  to  the  end  of 
the  chapter." 

"And  you  are  laughing  now,  perhaps,"  said 
Louis. 


DASinVOOD    PKIORV.  219 

"  Well;,  it'  you  Avill  be  so  very  modest  and  scep- 
tical, I  cannot  help  it/'  replied  Hamilton ;  "  l)ut 
I  mean  what  I  have  said.  It  is  not  perfecth- 
faultless,  as  I  w  ill  presently  show ;  but  let  me  tell 
you,  there  are  not  many  men  in  Oxford  who  could 
write  an  off-hand  translation  in  this  style.  I  always 
considered  you  possessed  of  no  little  poetical  taste 
iu  oldcn  times.  Now  the  principal  fault  in  this  is 
a  little  too  much  liberty  with  the  subject ;  you  have 
introduced  too  much  extemporaneous  matter,  but 
that,  in  an  original  poem,  Avould  be  of  no  conse- 
quence, and  the  upshot  of  my  beginning  is,  that 
1  would  strongly  advise  you  to  try  for  the  Xewdi- 
gate.  Believe  me,  you  are  likely  to  stand  a  very 
fair  chance  for  it." 

"  ^fy  dear  Hamilton  ! "  exclaimed  Louis 
again. 

"Try,"  replied  Hamilton,  "i  will  be  judge 
quietly  ;  and  wc  can  but  condemn  in  private,  if  it 
should  seem  insignificant.  What  docs  the  Italian 
proverb  say,  Louis  ?  '  He  who  would  be  pope, 
must  take  it  strongly  into  his  head,  and  he  shall 
be  pope.'  You  bring  me  the  outline  of  your 
proposed  plan  of  operation,  and  let  us  discuss  its 
capabilities." 

"  I  shall  not  mind  trying,"  said  Louis  ;  "  but  I 
cannot  hope  for  much.  I  believe  I  could  not 
persuade  myself  I  should  succeed.  Wliat  is  the 
subject  for  this  year?" 

"  Nebuchadnezzar's  first  (h'cam, — the  great 
image,"  answered  Hamilton. 


250  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  That  will  be  delightful/'  said  Louis ;  but  his 
countenance  grew  very  thoughtful. 

"  Hamilton,  you  have  always  humoured  me  and 
advised  me  in  everything ;  I  Avant — " 

"AVhat?  a  little  advice  now?"  asked  Hamilton. 

"  You  know,  Hamilton,  you  go  on  stirring  me 
up,  telling  me  constantly  I  must  try  for  honours, 
and  here  I  am  just  trembling  about  these  tremen- 
dous responsions ;  and  I  am  so  absorbed  in  syllo- 
gisms, and  axioms,  and  Q.  E.  D.'s,  and  all  the 
host  of  small  things,  that  really  I  don't  know 
what  it  will  be  when  I  have  to  dive  more  deeply 
into  these  matters.'' 

Hamilton  smiled. 

"  Why,  Louis,  you  do  not  know  how  gradually 
you  are  now  learning  to  dive  into  deeper  matters ; 
yoTi  will  soon  find  that  your  regular  study  is 
telling  more  than  you  have  any  idea  of.  My  rule 
always  was, — Never  leave  till  to-morrow  what  may 
be  done  to-day;  and  I  have  made  you  do  the 
same.  There  will  be  hard  work  at  last,  undoubt- 
edly ;  but  never  fear  that  if  you  keep  steadily  up 
to  the  mark  from  this  time  forward,  you  may  and 
will  succeed  at  the  end.  The  fact  is,  if  men  chose 
to  work  steadily,  we  should  have  many  more  first 
and  second  class  men.  They  often  come  up,  as 
some  quaint  old  writer  observes,  golden  scholars, 
and  tm'n  out  silver  students,  from  want  of  that 
industry  which  a  principle  of  right  inspires,  wliich 
would  easily  confirm  what  they  have  acquired 
with  so  much  labour  and  expense,  for  the  greatest 


DASnWOOD    PRIORY.  251 

part  of  their  lives.  I  get  quite  chafed  sometimes, 
when  I  see  the  prodigal  waste  of  time,  youth, 
strength,  talents,  paid  of  those  golden  opportu- 
nities here  offered,  which  will  never  return.  It  is 
not  so  much  genius  as  perseverance  that  is  wanted. 
Genius  can  accomplish  nothing  without  perse- 
verance, but  perseverance  may  do  much  without 
genius." 

"  I  allow  that,  Hamilton ;  but  suppose  I  do 
succeed,  what  then?"  and  Louis  looked  Acry 
steadily  at  his  friend. 

"What  then!"  repeated  Hamilton.  "^I  am 
sui*prised  to  hear  you  ask,  what  then  ?  Duty  is 
duty  to  a  conscientious  mind:  ' ivhat  thens'  we 
do  not  trouble  ourselves  about." 

"But  why  is  it  my  duty  to  gain  honours?" 
asked  Louis.  "  I  can  see  it  ray  duty  to  fit  myself 
for  my  office,  l)ut  how  will  gaining  honours  assist 
that,  Hamilton  ?    I  can  pass  without  honours." 

"  Pass  ivlthoiit  honours !  to  be  sure  you  can," 
said  Hamilton,  contemptuously.  "  Louis,  I  detest 
that  cry  of  cui  bono  ?  It  seems  to  me  either  the 
demand  of  a  lazy  tasteless  fool,  or  a  very  blind 
utilitarian." 

"  You  are  as  vehement  as  if  you  could  not 
support  your  argument,"  said  Louis. 

"  Supp(jrt  it,"  repeated  Hamilton  ;  "  I  do  not 
think  I  shall  be  inclined  to  take  the  trouble, 
wliurc  it  is  self-evident :  l)ut  why  tliis  veering 
round,  Louis  ?  Have  you  no  ambition  ?" 

"More  than    you    ihiiik,    Hamilton,"    replied 


:^o:Z  DASHWOOD    PRIORY, 

Louisj  rather  sadly  :  "  so  muclij  tliat  I  sometimes 
fear. — You  liave  not  forgotten  Vernon;  he  won 
more  honours  than  I  could  ever  hope  for  with  the 
hardest  labour,  and  what  did  he  say,  Hamilton  ? 
I  remember  how  sadly  he  said,  '  Hoiv  dieth  the 
wise  man  ?  even  as  the  fool.  Vanity  of  vanities, 
all  is  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit.'  " 

Hamilton's  eyes  glistened  at  the  mention  of  his 
old  friend,  and  he  did  not  reply  for  a  minute. 

"  It  seems,  Louis/'  he  said  gravely,  "  that  your 
morbid  imagination  considers  the  attainment  of 
earthh'  honours  an  earthly  sin,  to  be  visited  by 
some  immediate  judgment.  Remember,  the  right 
of  an  action  depends  upon  the  inciting  motive. 
What  will  be  your  motive  ?  I  fancy  it  Avould  not 
be  the  mere  distinction  of  being  first,  which, 
indeed,  you  can  hardh'  hope  for." 

"  No ;  yet,  I  don't  know,"  said  Louis  :  "  I  am 
afraid  that  is  the  greatest  motive." 

"  I  do  not  think  so,"  replied  Hamilton,  deci- 
dedly ;  "  I  knoAv  it  ought  not,  nor  ought  it  to  be 
merely  that  of  obtaining  a  distant  fellowship,  or 
such  substantial  emoluments  as  the  university 
liolds  out  to  her  successful  sons.  If  you  think 
your  motive  is  mere  love  of  distinction,  throw 
your  books  away,  and  sec  whether  your  conscience 
will  be  perfectly  satisfied  with  this  immolation  of 
your  talents  to  the  desire  of  extinguishing  this 
feeling." 

Louis  stripped  the  feather  from  a  pen,  as  he 
thoughtfully  considered  his  friend's  remarks. 


DASH^VOOD    PKIOUY.  253 

"Will  you  do  that,  Louis?" 

"  Why,  no,  not  exactly." 

"  But  Avhy  not  ?  Have  you  not  enough  self- 
denial  ?" 

'•'  I  should  not  think  it  right,  because  my  father 
expocts  me  to  study ;  at  least,  enough  to  take  my 
degree.     And  I  could  not  disappoint  him." 

"  Ta/ce  7/01(1'  degree  !  Pshaw  !  you  come  back 
again  arguing  in  a  circle,"  said  Hamilton  impa- 
tiently ;  "  your  father  expects  you  to  make  the 
most  of  your  time.  Perha})s  lie  does  not  delibe- 
rately expect  you  to  take  honours,  but  he  expects 
you  to  work, — not  to  be  idle ;  and  if  you  do  less 
than  you  can,  it  is  idling.  If  you  do  not  use  the 
powers  God  has  given  you,  in  the  situation  in 
which  he  has  placed  you,  you  are  not  doing  your 
duty:  you  are  not  doing  mightily  whatsoever 
your  hands  find  to  do ;  and,  believe  me,  if  you  do 
not  read  for  honours,  you  will  not  have  sufficient 
occupation.  You  know  you  can  go  up  to  Icctui-e 
day  after  day  with  little  or  no  preparation,  and 
surely,  I  need  not  remind  you  that  the  more 
learning  you  have,  the  more  you  will  be  fitted  for 
any  sphere;  and  in  your  calling,  you  will  in  time 
have  to  answer  all  kinds  of  objections,  and  refute 
all  denominations  of  arguments,  not  cnily  among 
the  illiterate,  but  among  those  who  will  respect 
your  opinion  little  if  you  cannot  boast  the  same 
amount  of  refinement  in  education  as  themselves ; 
and  the  higher  you  are  above  such  in  attainments, 
the  more  will  your  opinion  have  weight.     In  all 


254  DASHWOOD    PllIORY. 

knowledge  is  profit,,  Louis/'  said  Hamilton,  with 
increasing  animation :  ^'  and  I  am  sm'e  it  is  a 
sin,  a  great  sin,  to  make  religion  an  excuse  for 
idleness." 

"Nay,  Hamilton/' 

"  You  don't  think  so,  I  know,"  continued 
Hamilton  steadily ;  "  but  it  is  something  like  it. 
As  for  Vernon,  poor  fellow,  it  was  not  study  that 
killed  him,  Louis;  and  if  it  had,  should  we  be 
justified  in  saying  that  no  one  else  was  ever  to 
study  deeply  again  ?  If  a  man  knows  he  is  injuring 
his  health  by  over-study,  then  it  becomes  a  different 
matter ;  but  till  he  does,  let  him  do  his  utmost,  as 
unto  God  and  not  imto  men.  Do  your  work 
diligently,  and  never  mind  whether  you  gain 
honours  or  not." 

"  Then  why  stimulate  me  ?  —  why  cannot  I 
study  without  the  idea  of  trying  for  a  first  class  V 

"  In  the  first  place,'^  said  Hamilton,  "  you  have 
no  right  to  despise  the  influence  of  example ;  and 
though  you  may  not  think  yours  of  much  weight 
here,  it  may  have  a  little  in  one  or  two  cases, 
which  is  worth  while  ;  and,  placing  yourself  among 
the  religious,  you  are  bound  to  show  yourself  a 
pattern  of  everything  that  is  lovely  and  of  good 
report;  and,  again,  you  may  fancy  you  would 
make  your  bare  duty  a  sufficient  motive  for  work- 
ing hard." 

"  I  hope  so,"  said  Louis,  quickly. 

"  And  yet,  I  think,  without  some  kind  of 
standard  by  which   you   may  measure  yourself. 


DASIIWOOD    riUOKV.  2ju 

liow  arc  you  to  know  that  you  have  done  as 
much  as  you  might,  till  you  have  measured  your 
strength  with  others  ?  and  the  remembrance  that 
this  race  is  to  come  off,  will  keep  you  up  to  the 
highest  mark ;  and  you  owe  it  to  your  friends  and 
tutors  to  give  them  all  the  gratification  in  your 
power." 

"  Thank  you,  dear  Hamilton,"  said  Louis, 
"  you  are  as  good  a  lecturer  as  you  used  to  be, 
and  I  hope  I  shall  profit  as  of  old ;  but  I  am  afraid 
you  will  be  very  impatient  if  I  tell  you  any  more 
of  my  ideas." 

"  Nay,  I  hope  not  unreasonably  so,"  replied 
Hamilton.     "  "What  is  scruple  number  two  ?" 

Louis  coloured,  and  rising,  came  nearer  his 
friend,  and  leaning  his  elbow  on  the  mantelpiece, 
looked  down  thoughtfidly,  as  if  he  knew  not  hovv- 
to  begin.  Hamilton  did  not  press  him,  but  stood 
patiently  with  his  back  to  the  fire,  awaiting  his 
friend's  communication,  which  he  began  in  a 
hesitating,  serious  manner,  as  if  it  were  much  on 
his  mind,  and  he  was  doubtful  how  it  would  be 
received. 

"  Hamilton,  why  is  it  so  necessary  that  we 
should  spend  so  nmch  of  our  time  in  compjiny 
with  heathen  writers,  drinking  in  their  religious 
sentiments  and  ceremonies,  till  their  very  expres- 
sions become  our  own?  AVhy  must  clergymen 
stiuly  these  things  ?  Sometimes  I  feel  as  tiiougli 
I  were  doing  wrong  in  spending  so  much  time  iu 
reading  tlicse  books.     1  have  often  thrown  aside 


256  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

Aristophanes  iii  my  own  room  from  a  kind  of 
fear ;  and  I  am  afraid  I  never  shall  be  able  to  study 
them  to  any  purpose." 

Louis  spoke  veiy  feelingl}^,  and  looked  at 
Hamilton  as  if  lie  expected  disapprobation ;  but 
Hamilton's  face  only  expressed  a  degree  of  irre- 
solution. He  cleared  his  throat  two  or  three 
times  before  he  ventured  to  reph^ 

"  I  presume  you  will  not  dispute  that  you 
ought  to  have  a  competent  knowledge  of  the  dead 
languages  ?  "  he  said. 

"  Certainly  not/'  replied  Louis. 

"  That  knowledge  you  cannot  obtain  but 
through  these  Avorks.  Of  course,  you  cannot 
expect  heathen  authors  to  waite  Christian  works, 
and  you  must  consider  it  a  question  of  business, 
not  of  heart.  You  feel  no  compunction  in  per- 
fecting yourself  in  Hebrew,  and  you  are  as  well 
aware  as  I  am,  that  a  critical  knowledge  of  Greek 
is  most  essential.  If  there  arc  any  writers  that 
distress  your  feelings  particularly,  you  can  give 
them  a  more  cursor}'-  inspection  than  others.  I 
cannot  help  thinking  that  you  are  in  rather  a 
morbid  state  of  conscientiousness.  As  to  the 
study  of  these,  I  do  not  pretend  to  account  for 
it ;  but  it  is  a  remarkaljle  fact,  that  almost  imme- 
diately upon  the  revival  of  learning  in  Florence, 
when  Lorenzo  the  jNIagnificent  established  his 
schools  for  the  study  of  Plato,  and  drew  all  the 
learned  to  court, — I  say,  almost  coeval  Avith  this, 
and  the  discovery  of  several  rare  Greek  ananu- 


DASHWOOD    PKIORY.  257 

scripts,  the  glorious  Reformation  burst  upou 
astonished  Europe." 

"  God's  time  had  come,  Hamilton/' 

"  It  had,  Louis,  and  He  turned  events  to  His 
own  great  purposes.  Perhaps  this  access  of 
knowledge,  and  study  of  philosophy,  taught  men 
to  think  each  one  for  himself,  and  made  liim  more 
bold  to  stand  alone.  It  is  a  known  fact,  that 
wherever  Romanism  is,  there  is  ignorance  and 
darkness  of  the  grossest  description  ;  and  w  her- 
ever  learning  goes,  men  in  a  measure  throw  off 
the  trammels  of  Rome.  Mind,  I  do  not  say  they 
become  sons  of  God, — that  is  afar  different  thing. 
But  why  is  it  you  never  thought  these  studies 
wrong  before  ?  " 

Louis  did  not  at  first  reply.  At  length  he 
answered,  thoughtfully, — 

"  Perhaps  because  I  simply  thought  it  right  to 
improve  my  time,  and  do  as  much  as  I  could, 
without  any  regard  to  the  matter  of  my  stxulies. 
But  now  I  seem  to  be  left  more  on  my  own 
responsibility,  and  in  a  great  measure  to  choose 
my  own  line  of  study,  and  it  lias  often  struck  me 
lately.  I  am  told  to  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God. 
How  can  I  imbue  myself  with  heatlien  sentiments 
to  his  glorj'  ?  The  great  work— His  work, — 
His  glory,  seems  to  be  lost  in  all  1  do  here." 

"  -My  dear  Louis,  you  arc  very  much  mistaken, 
depend  upon  it,"  said  Hamilton,  throwing  him- 
self into  a  chair,  and  speaking  rapidly  ;  "you  arc 
taking  a  very  narrow  view  of  your  present  posi- 
s 


258  DASHWOOD    PillORY. 

tion.  I  fancy  you  imagine  that  the  only  way  of 
glorifying  God  is  by  being  constantly  engaged  iu 
preaching  to  others.  You  are  not  called  upon  to 
do  that  now ;  instead  of  that,  you  are  to  learii 
what  will  qualify  you  for  it  afterwards.  You 
must  look  forward,  and  remember  that  you  are 
only  preparing  to  begin  life,  and  pursuing  these 
studies  as  a  means  to  an  end.  Louis,  why  is  it 
that  so  many  pious  and  judicious  men  send  their 
sons  here,  if  these  studies  are  so  deleterious  ?  " 
"  That  has  often  puzzled  me,''  said  Louis. 
"  Why  is  it,"  continued  Hamilton,  speaking 
rapidly,  "  that  so  many  clear-headed  pious  men 
are  poured  out  of  our  universities  year  after  year, 
if  all  is  evil  there  ?  Depend  upon  it,  humanbj 
speaking,  it  is  because  each  one  is  taught  to  think ; 
because  they  insensibly  learn,  through  the  me- 
dium of  these  very  studies,  to  seize  hold  of  all  the 
really  necessary,  and  to  reject  the  superabundant. 
They  learn  to  reason ;  they  see  how  far  man's  un- 
aided intellect  can  guide  him,  and  how  necessary 
the  light  of  Revelation ;  how  continually  men  in 
all  ages  arrive,  to  a  certain  distance,  at.  the  same 
conclusion, — but  can  go  no  further." 
He  paused,  as  Louis  remarked, — 
"  Piety  is  sometliing  distinct  from  this." 
"  I  grant  it,  Louis  ;  yet,  in  the  long  history  of 
the  world's  darkness,  a  long,  painful,  labouring 
process  has  always  preceded  the  dawn  of  light. 
Vv"e  cannot  understand  why  it  was  necessary  that 
the  whole  world  should  be  left,  with  the  exceptioa 


DASinVOOD    PKIORY,  259 

of  cne  nation,  in  gross  darkness  and  ignorance 
for  four  thousand  years ;  yet  it  was  so.  Why  was 
it  that  MoseSj  destined  for  his  high  office,  v.a.s 
educated  in  a  heathen  land,  made  learned  in  tlie 
wisdom  of  the  Egyptians,  and  passed  eighty  years 
in  obscurity  before  he  was  deemed  ready  ?  The 
conflict  seemed  necessary.  And  to  leave  other 
instances,  and  to  come  still  further  on,  Louis ;  you 
want  to  preach,  to  instruct,  before  your  time.  The 
holy  child  Jesus,  whose  learniug  of  twelve  years 
of  age  made  Him  the  wonder  of  sages  and  doctoi*s, 
— who  yearned  to  '  be  about  His  Father's  business,' 
retired  into  obscurity ;  and  till  He  began  to  be 
about  thirty  years  of  age,  He  taught  us  in  that 
meek  submission  to  a  conflict,  which  in  His  own 
soul  He  could  not  need,  that  before  every  great 
work,  is  a  time  of  longer  preparation  and  patient 
waiting.  Before  manhood,  comes  childhood.  Why 
is  it  that  the  embryo  man  should  be  allowed  to 
pass  so  large  a  portion  of  his  life  in  folly  ? — for 
we  are  told  childhood  and  youth  are  folly.  God 
is  not  in  need  of  instruments  to  do  His  own  work, 
and  till  the  time  comes  in  His  own  providence,  it 
is  presumption  to  think  we  can  find  out  a  better 
way  for  ourselves.  We  must  be  content  to  do 
notliing  and  be  nothini;  when  He  chooses  we 
shall  be  nothing  and  do  nothing,  and  quietly 
prepare  ourselves  for  the  time  when  He  shall  iind 
work  for  us.  I  am  persuadrd  that  half  the  crroi-s 
of  fanaticism  arise  from  weak-inindi-d  men  fancy- 
ing they  are  called  to  some  great  work  without 
«  9 


260  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

preparatory  knowledge,  forgetting  that  miraculous 
gifts  of  language  and  immediate  revelation  have 
long  ended,  and  that  it  is  not  apparently  the 
Almighty's  a^HI  that  man  sliould  become  suddenly 
and  supernaturally  fitted  for  this  greatest  of  offices. 
You  must  not  'despise  the  day  of  small  things/ 
Louis.  We  would  all  rather  that  knowledge  and 
fitness  should  come  intuitively;  but  the  conflict 
and  discipline  of  labour  is  necessary  —  man  is 
destined  to  it;  and  to  me  there  is  something 
delightful  in  the  power  bestowed  on  us  of  attain- 
ing to  something  by  our  own  efforts.  In  some 
things,  indeed,  our  strength  is  to  sit  still,  but  in 
most  the  Lord  speaks  to  His  people  to  go  forward. 
Here,  on  this  earth,  Louis,  goes  on  the  constant 
chipping  of  the  stones  for  the  temple  above ;  the 
rest  will  be  in  the  land  beyond,  where  each 
polished  stone  shall  be  silently  laid  when  the 
necessary  painful  toil  is  over;  and  the  building 
goes  gradually  on ;  stone  after  stone  is  carried 
above ;  and  none  that  is  placed  there,  Louis,  thinks 
the  conflict  on  earth  too  great." 

"  Oh,  Hamilton  !  '^  exclaimed  Louis,  warmly ; 
"  oh,  for  that  time  when  '  the  headstone  shall 
be  brought  with  shoutings.^ " 

"  Ay,  but  Louis,"  rejoined  Hamilton,  with  a 
quiet,  sweet  smile ;  "  but  you  remember,  '  lie  that 
helieveth  shall  not  niahe  haste.'  " 

There  was  a  dead  silence,  and  Louis  looked  up 
once  or  twice  at  his  friend,  but  showed  no  incli- 
nation to  break  it.     Hamilton  sat  with  his  eves 


DASinVOOl)    PKIOUV.  2G1 

intently  fixed  on  the  ground  in  profound  thought, 
till  Louis  sighed,  when  he  raised  them  to  his 
pupil's  face  with  a  look  of  inquiry. 

"  My  dear  Hamilton,  I  cannot  tell  you  how 
very  sweetly  the  "Word  of  God  comes  from  you, 
especially  when  you  get  philosophical.  I  am 
afraid  you  will  think  it  a  great  sign  of  weakness 
in  me,  if  I  tell  you  what  an  aching  sensation  I 
always  experience  whenever  I  hear  anything  ap- 
proaching to  a  philosophical  disquisition  on  the 
origin  of  evil,  and  the  reasons  why  the  world  was 
suffered  to  lie  so  long  in  darkness,  and  the  great 
good  to  be  learned  by  the  history  of  this  or  that 
heathen  nation,  as  I  luive  often  heard  here.  No- 
thing ever  seems  satisfactorily  proved  to  my  mind, 
and  what  is  advanced  and  pursued  seems  to  me 
to  run  away  from  the  Bible  sadly.  I  assure  you 
when  you  and  Berry  were  arguing  the  other  night 
on  Schlegel's  '  Philosophy  of  History,'  I  began  to 
wonder  whether  I  was  awake  or  alive,  whether 
anything  had  ever  existed,  and  whether  there  was 
any  harm  in  any  wickedness  that  had  ever  been 
perpetrated,  and  you  were  moderate  compared 
to  .Moreton  and  Osborne.  These  things  do  not 
Miit  me.  If  I  heard  much  of  them,  I  am  afraid 
I  should  almost  become  a  sceptic,  but  for  one 
great  safeguard.  I  know  in  my  heart  that  the 
Bible  is  true,  and  it  is  impossible  to  express  the 
proc-ions  power  of  a  passage  from  that  dear  book. 
I  fiicl  when  you  bring  it  forward  as  you  do,  you 
will  not  mislead  me." 


2€2  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  Mislead  you !  no,  I  hope  not/'  said  Hamilton, 
in  a  tone  of  surprise. 

"Yet  had  you  not  spoken  to  me  of  Moses, 
and  above  all  of  our  Lord,  I  should  not  have 
been  satisfied,  Hamilton,  though  I  trust  I  am 
now.  When  you  spoke  of  the  darkness  of  the 
world,  and  the  good  to  be  gained  by  the  con- 
sideration of  man's  mind  and  its  capabilities  in  all 
ages,  I  was  unconvinced ;  but  the  rationale  of 
your  view  flashed  across  me  as  light,  when  you 
spoke  of  the  thirty  years  of  His  meek  submission 
to  an  earthly  parent.  Hamilton,  what  a  friend 
you  are  to  me ;  I  wonder  how  I  should  get  on 
without  you  to  set  me  straight." 

"  How,  Louis !  you  are  forgetful  to-day,"  said 
Hamilton,  gravely.  "  'My  soul  hangeth  upon 
Thee.  Thy  right  hand  hath  upholden  me.'  Re- 
member He  is  a  nail  in  a  sure  place,  and  they 
who  are  upholden  by  Him  shall  never  fall." 

Louis  was  about  to  speak,  but  Hamilton  con- 
tinued without  noticing  his  attempts, — 

"  You  remember  old  Latimer.  In  his  youth  he 
carefully  searched  and  made  up  his  mind  on  cer- 
tain doubtful  and  disputed  points,  and  having  once 
done  this,  he  did  not  allow  it  to  be  disturbed  by 
conflicting  opinions.  Follow  his  example,  asking 
earnestly  an  Almighty  blessing ;  let  your  mind  be 
carefully  made  up,  and  then  let  no  doubts  disturb 
your  course  of  action.  In  my  opinion,  your  course 
is  plain.  With  the  system  pursued  for  preparing 
clergymen  for  their  otfice,  you  have  nothing  to  do ; 


DASUWOOD    PRIORY.  263 

you  must  pass  through  it,  and  with  your  princi- 
ples you  ought  to  go  through  in  the  best  possible 
manner.  Look  at  Henry  Kirke  "White  and  Henry 
Martyn — you  may  surely  follow  their  examples; 
and  as  a  proof  how  a  mind  attuned  to  divine 
things  sees  them  in  all,  read  again,  if  you  have 
read  it  before,  ^lartyn's  impressions  on  preparing 
a  portion  of  the  /Eneid,  when  appointed  examiner. 
You  need  not  fear,  Louis.  Do  not  distress  your- 
self with  scruples.^'  He  paused  a  minute,  as  if 
thinking,  and  then  added,  "  I  have  a  dear  old 
friend  at  home,  Louis,  with  whom  you  would  like 
to  talk.  I  am  thinking  now,  if  I  had  given  you 
some  of  her  thoughts  instead  of  my  own,  it  might 
Iiavc  been  still  better.  She  would  talk  to  you  of 
t\\v  faith  of  stiulying  in  whatever  path  your  pecu- 
liar power  points  out.  She  would  ask  you  why 
your  impulses  were  given  you,  and  who  gave  them, 
and  she  would  make  you  answer  this  question, 
which  I  must  leave  you  now  to  answer  by  yourself, 
or  to  me  when  we  have  more  time.  The  life  of  a 
C'luistian  is  by  faith.  Is  faith  most  exercised, 
when  we  can  satisfactorily  answer  the  wiiv  that 
rises  up,  or  when  we  fulfil  a  duty  without  seeing 
any  immediate  result,  or  obtaining  any  personal 
gratification  therefrom  ?  liut  wo  must  part  now. 
To  your  toilet.  You  do  not  know  what  time  it 
is.     Hall — Hall,  an  i-evoir." 

Louis  hastily  bade  his  friend  adieu,  and  hurried 
away. 

"When  he  was  alone  that  evening,  he  made  his 


364  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

perplexities  a  subject  for  prayer;  nor  did  he  forget 
the  project  Hamilton  had  set  before  him,  in  his 
petitions,  that  he  might  be  directed  aright,  and 
might  diligently  use  all  his  talents  solely  to  the 
glory  of  Him  who  had  bestowed  them,  and  who 
has  commanded  us  to  cast  all  our  care  on  Him, 
for  He  careth  not  only  for  the  great  cares  and 
trials,  which  come  seldom  upon  some  men,  but  for 
each  little  perplexity,  each  little  anxiety,  that 
would  draw  the  soul  from  its  resting-place  to 
dependence  upon  itself.  The  language  of  each 
Christian  heart  should  be  that  of  Moses,  "If 
Thy  presence  go  not  with  us,  carry  us  not  up 
hence.^'  So  Louis^  breathed  petition  was,  "  If  I 
may  not  do  this  to  Thy  glory,  take  away  the  power 
from  me.  Prosper  not  my  handiwork,  if  it  speak 
not  for  Thee,"  and  he  rose  from  his  prayer,  re- 
freshed and  strengthened  for  his  work. 

A  word  in  season,  how  good  it  is.  Many  times 
did  Louis'  mind  dwell  happily  on  the  remembrance 
of  the  nail  in  the  sm'e  place — of  Him  of  whom 
he  could  say,  "  My  soul  hangeth  upon  Thee.'' 

My  soul  hangeth  upon  Thee — hangeth  upon 
Thee  !  ah,  there  is  the  Christian's  safety  :  hang- 
eth upon  the  sure  anchor ;  resteth  upon  the  ever- 
lasting rock ;  and  the  waves  of  infidelity,  of  error, 
superstition,  and  mysticism,  may  dash  around  and 
overthrow  the  self-reliant,  but  He  whose  feet  are 
surely  placed,  shall  never  be  moved.  There  is  the 
only  secm'ity.  He  is  the  only  refuge — the  only 
foundation.     He  whose  soul  hangeth  upon  Christ 


DASHwooD  riiioiiv.  265 

shall  be  upholden  with  the  right  luind  of  Omni- 
potence. 

A  few  (lays  after  this  conversation,  Louis  brought 
Hamilton  a  slight  plan  of  his  poem,  which  after 
many  considerable  deliberations  on  Hamilton's 
part,  obtained  his  decided  approval.  And  Louis, 
now  furnished  with  a  very  congenial  employment, 
worked  away  for  the  next  few  months  very  busily. 
Kind,  unwearied  Hamilton,  though  studying  for  a 
fellowship,  and  dividing  his  time  among  nine  or 
ten  pupils,  often  spared  his  ancient  protege  a  half- 
hour  to  criticise  his  prodnetion ;  and  the  work  was 
rapidly  brought  to  a  conclusion  under  the  most 
favourable  auspices,  and  was  duly  sent  in  to  the 
proper  authorities  to  await  the  mighty  decision. 


266  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

"  T  have,  and  most  unwillingly,  of  late 
Heard  many  grievous — 

Grievous  complaints  of  j'ou,  which  being  considered, 
Have  moved  us  and  our  council,  that  you  shall 
This  morning  come  before  us." 

King  Henry  VIII. 

We  must  now  be  allowed  to  go  backward  to  the 
begiuning  of  the  last  chapter,  where  it  is  stated 
that  our  hero  passed  his  "  little  go"  with  great 
credit.  One  evening,  a  few  days  after  this  event,  he 
was  alone  in  his  rooms.  His  tea  apparatus  had  not 
been  long  removed,  and  he  Avas  deeply  engaged  with 
liis  Bible  and  Keith's  "  Evidences  of  Prophecy," 
so  wrapped  up  in  his  employment  that  he  did  not 
hear  two  sharp  little  knocks  at  his  door,  and,  in 
consequence,  was  not  a  little  startled  by  the  appa- 
rition of  his  cousin  close  to  his  elbow. 

''  Are  you  deaf  or  cataleptic  this  evening  ?  " 

Louis  started  to  his  feet,  and  it  was  a  second  or 
two  before  he  comprehended  the  nature  of  the 
interruption. 

"What  absorbs  you  so  much?"  asked  Frank, 
as  he  took  up  the  book  that  lay  near  him, 
"  Grote — hum  !  Keith — ah,  that's  a  book  I 
recommend  to  every  one  ! " 

" How,  is  it  a  favourite  of  yours?" 


DASnWOOD    PRIORY. 


2G7 


"  It  is  a  favourite  of  Dr.  Wilkinson's ;  and  as  I 
always  place  great  dependence  upon  his  judgment, 
I  cannot  err." 

"  You  take  Ins  word  for  it  as  regards  yourself, 
I  suppose/'  remarked  Louis. 

"Just  what  I  say,"  returned  Frank.  "But 
now  those  fellows  will  pull  down  my  apartments, 
if  I  don't  be  quick  on  my  eiTand.  I  have  a  party 
of  musicians  at  my  rooms,  quiet,  steady  fellows ; 
and  we've  some  new  music  to  try,  and — and 
there's  a  piano  accompaniment,  and  the  long  and 
tlic  short  is,  we  want  the  loan  of  your  piano,  and 
your  fingers  to  play  for  us.  Will  you  lend  us 
your  room  for  to-night  ?  we'll  be  very  good." 
Louis  hesitated  a  minute. 
"  Come  now,  you'll  enjoy  it  yourself.  Do  you 
knowPurccll?"* 

"  No,  nothing,  except  a  solitary  anthem  and  a 
Humt." 

"  Then  there's  a  treat  for  you.  Come,  you  arc 
too  much  of  a  hermit :  there's  nothing  sinful  in 
music." 

"Well,  on  one  condition  I  will,"  said  Louis. 
"  Ilcmcmber,  I  am  very  sedate,  and  enough  of  an 
old  woman  not  to  like  a  noise.  I  stipulate  for 
early  hours  and  no  '  row.' " 

"It's  a  tiling  I  never  do,"  said  Frank,  with  a 
flourish.  "  What  a  timorous  hare  you  are,  to  be 
afraid  of  a  set  of  quiet  musical  men." 

Louis  looked  rather  doubtfully  at  Frank,  and 
shook  his  head. 


268  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  What  instruments^  Frank  ?^' 

"  A  flute,  two  violins,  et  cetera." 

"  Well,  as  et  cetera  is  coming,  remember,  honour 
bright,  Frank,  you  must  not  get  up  a  row  here, 
nor  stay  after  eleven." 

''  A  thing  I  never  do,"  said  Frank. 

"  As  to  what  you  never  do,  Frank,  remember 
what  a  friend — " 

"'That's  just  what  I  say,"  interrupted  Frank. 
"I  always  was  very  accommodating  myself:  now 
Pll  order  our  spread  in  here — eh?  what's  that? 
ah,  Mr.  Louis,  you  practise  pistol- shooting,  do 
you?" 

His  quick  roving  eyes  had  lighted  on  a  hand- 
some pistol,  which  lay  on  the  mantel-piece,  and 
he  marched  up  to  examine  it  more  minutely. 

"  It's  not  mine,"  said  Louis,  quietly.  "  More- 
ton  left  it  here  this  morning,  and  I  shall  be  very 
glad  when  he  calls  for  it.  I  have  a  morbid  dis- 
like of  firearms,  and  I  really  don't  know  whether 
it  is  loaded  or  not." 

"  Poor  chicken  !"  said  Frank.  "  But  I  mustn't 
stay  :  prepare  your  quiet  self  in  two  minutes  for 
an  irruption  of  the  Huns." 

"  They  were  very  remarkable  for  tranquillity," 
rejoined  Louis,  beginning  to  clear  the  table  of  the 
books  of  reference  with  which  it  was  crowded. 

"Very,"  returned  Frank.  "Adieu.  Fll  be 
with  you  *  ere  the  leviathan  can  swim  a  league' " 

Although  Louis  dearly  loved  music,  and  by  no 
means  disliked  the  idea  of  a  musical  evening  at 


DASinVOOD    PUIOKY.  2G9 

any  time,  he  Mas  not  altogether  without  appre- 
hensions as  to  the  cliaracter  of  Frank's  party ;  nor 
were  his  fears  calmed  wlien  his  door  was  once 
more  violently  flung  open,  and  Ford  marched  in, 
bearing  a  couple  of  candles,  followed  by  half  a 
dozen  more  with  music-books  and  instruments, 
Mr.  Ilalhed  bringing  up  the  rear  with  a  violon- 
cello. One  or  two  of  the  incomers  were  speakins; 
acquaintances  of  Louis',  and  they  performed  the 
ceremony  of  thanking  him  for  the  use  of  his 
room.  Frank,  who  had  stayed  behind  to  arrange 
the  "spread'^  with  his  scout,  soon  arrived  and 
introduced  his  unknown  friends  as  Mai-sden,  Hale, 
Smith,  Barton,  and  Cox,  with  an  intimation, 
something  between  a  request  and  a  command, 
they  would  be  pleased  to  know  each  other. 

In  spite  of  Louis'  previous  disinclination  to  the 
introduction,  he  did  the  honours  of  his  rooms  with 
a  courtcs}-  and  elegance  that  won  the  musicians, 
and  they  were  soon  gathered  round  the  table,  from 
which  Louis  had  removed  all  traces  of  his  studies, 
looking  over  tiie  new  music,  which  proved  to  be 
an  arrangement  of  some  of  the  music  of  "  King 
Arthur,"  with  a  piano  accompaniment,  and  a 
cliorus  from  "  Boadicea." 

"  Wc  have  been  making  a  sad  mess  of  them," 
said  Hall,  "because  the  cornet- a-piston  got  so 
horridly  out." 

The  cornet-;\-piston  Ijccoming  fierce  at  tliis, 
retaliated  upon  the  violins,  and  where  the  argu- 
ment might  have  ended  we  do  not  know,  Iiad  not 


270  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

Frank  come  to  the  rescue  by  declaring  that  all 
were  wrong,  because  they  wanted  a  rallying-point. 

"  Then/'  exclaimed  Ford,  "  Hall  was  taken  up 
so  abominably  with  the  title-pages." 

"  I  deny  it/'  exclaimed  Hall. 

"  Why  now,  didn't  you  and  Halhed  get  talking 
in  the  bar's  rests  and  when  you  ought  to  have 
come  in  ?  all  we  heard  was,  '  It's  the  Elizabethan. 
No  ;  the  Roman.     I  can  prove  it.'  " 

There  was  a  hearty  laugh. 

"  By  the  bye,  Louis,  did  you  ever  see  anything 
like  these  letters  ?  "  said  Frank. 

"  They  are  singular,"  replied  Louis ;  "  but  I 
have  often  seen  printing  of  that  description  on 
handbills." 

"  Do  you  know  the  origin  of  italics  ? "  asked 
Ford :  "  I  never  found  any  one  who  did  perfectly. 
It's  rather  curious." 

Louis  having  replied  in  the  negative.  Ford  pro- 
ceeded to  enlighten  him. 

"  When  the  renowned  grandson  of  the  Alban 
king  had  thatched  the  first  palaces  in  Rome,  he 
invented  tlie  Roman  alphabet,  in  order  that  the 
heads  of  his  mud  college  might  be  able  to  prose- 
cute their  studies.  Determined  that  everything 
his  people  did  sliould  be  upright  and  straiglit- 
forward,  the  first  alphabetical  characters  familiar 
to  the  juvenility  of  Rome  were  of  the  plain  up- 
right description  known  to  us  as  the  Roman 
alphabet.  Afterwards,  when  his  posterity  began 
to  be  a  little  less  particular  in  their  dealings,  they 


DASHWOOD    PllIORY.  271 

were  ashamed  that  their  letters  should  evince 
more  uprij^htness  than  themselves,  and  an  ancient 
Avi-iter  in  the  rcigu  of  Claudius  Caesar,  quoting  u 
passage  in  one  of  the  lost  books  of  Livy,  relates 
that  a  lawsuit  was  commenced  between  a  bar- 
barian and  one  of  the  richest  merchants,  because 
the  latter  had  written  an  upright  letter  to  the 
former,  without  even  intending  it  as  such.  So 
they  invented  italics  for  the  purpose  of  informing 
the  public  that  they  only  intended  to  lean  towards 
the  right,  and  would  not  be  answerable  for  conse- 
quences at  any  time,  should  they  fail  in  doing  so." 

"  As  for  the  Elizabethan,"  added  Frank,  "  it  is 
well  known  that  her  Majesty  Queen  Elizabeth, 
being  rather  crooked  in  her  dealings,  wished  her 
despatches  to  be  taken  in  the  opposite  sense  to 
that  which  she  wrote  them,  or  at  all  events,  to  be 
so  ambiguous  that  no  one  but  herself  could  make 
head  or  tail  out  of  them.  Thereupon  she  caused 
the  alphabet  bearing  her  name  to  be  framed,  to 
tlie  end  that  all  the  letters  should  look  as  much 
like  one  another  as  possible.'^ 

"  And  I  think  she  succeeded  uncommonly  well," 
rejoined  Louis,  laughing. 

"  Ford,  may  I  ask  you  what  writer  you  spoke 
of  who  quotes  the  lost  decade  of  Livy?"  asked 
Halhed.     "  I  should  hke  to  peruse  his  writings." 

A  hearty  burst  of  laughter  followed  tlic  inquiry, 
and  Ford  having  referred  his  friend  to  some  un- 
known name,  suggested  that  the  performance 
should  be  no  longer  delayed.     Louis  repaired  to 


273  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

the  piano,  and  after  a  proper  amount  of  fanning 
of  leaves,  and  such  queries  as  "  Where  am  I  to 
begin  ?  Where  do  I  come  ?  What  key 's  this  ? 
How  many  blacks  are  there  ?  "  and  exclamations 
from  wind  instruments,  that  the  piano  was  too 
low,  and  from  the  stringed  that  it  was  too  high, 
they  at  last  commenced,  Frank  acting  as  conductor, 
and  two  of  his  friends  as  audience.  Louis'  own 
part  at  sight  was  as  much  as  he  coidd  look  after 
at  first ;  but  his  performance  was  rapturously 
applauded  at  the  conclusion  of  "  Britons  strike 
home;"  and  though  each  performer  had  been 
tolerably  independent,  all  were  very  well  satisfied 
with  the  noise  except  the  conductor,  who  greatly 
exasperated  the  players  by  declaring  his  unqualified 
disapprobation  of  the  Avhole.  However,  it  is  not 
on  such  occasions  that  the  beauty  of  the  music 
adds  much  to  the  enjoyment,  and  in  the  succeed- 
ing efforts  the  party  grew  merrier  and  merrier, 
and  noisier  and  noisier,  even  Louis  becoming  a 
little  infected,  and  thoroughly  enjoying  the  beau- 
tiful music,  which  possessed  all  the  charms  of 
novelty  for  him.  As  they  had  the  words  of  two 
choruses,  they  varied  their  entertainment  by  sing- 
ing, and  were  in  the  height  of  the  fun  when  the 
supper  appeared.  Louis  continued  playing  the 
piano  part  of  "  Come  if  you  dare,"  when  Frank 
whispered  something  to  Ford,  who  went  imme- 
diately to  tlie  mantel-piece,  and  carefully  examined 
Louis^  watch,  which  stood  there  in  a  rosewood 
stand.     Frank  meantime  waited  at  the  piano  till 


DASHWOOD    PUIORY.  273 

a  convenient  pause,  and  then  announced  to  Louis 
that  supper  was  ready. 

"  And  I  am  quite  ready,"  said  Louis,  jumping 
up.     ''Really  this  music  is  quite  dcliglitful." 

•'  And  you  play  so  capitally,"  said  Hall. 
"  Really  you  are  quite  a  genius." 

"  Now,  Frank,"  said  Louis,  putting  liis  cousin 
forward,  "  1  have  lent  my  rooms,  and  you  arc 
host." 

"  Nay,  I  cannot  think  of  taking  the  head  of 
another  man's  table,"  said  Frank.  "  Wc  are  all 
much  obliged  for  your  assistance,  but  I  could  not 
be  comfortable  in  taking  that  place." 

"  Come,  Mortimer,  be  reasonable,"  cried  several 
voices ;  ''  and  don't  oblige  us  to  use  force  to  our 
host.     No  one  sits  down  till  you  take  your  place." 

Louis  obeyed  the  unanimous  call.  As  he  drew 
near  the  table,  his  guests  were  standing  round, 
and  there  was  a  little  lull  in  the  noise.  It  seemed 
to  invite  what  Louis'  own  heart  dictated  to  him; 
but  a  mistaken  feeling  of  shame  stayed  his  lips, 
and  even  while  lingering,  ere  he  seated  himself, 
he  could  not  openly  acknowledge  Him  who  crowns 
the  table  of  His  creatures  with  plenty.  A  moment 
more — but  a  moment  of  irresolution,  and  the  time 
was  past,  the  noise  returned,  and  the  calls  on  the 
host  were  unintcrriq)t('d,  but  his  pleasure  was 
gone.  ^Vith  a  sinking  heart  and  listless  ear  he 
heard  the  noisy  jokes  and  bad  puns,  and  scarcely 
made  an  eifort  to  appear  interested  in  anything 
that  followed,  only  anxious  for  some  opportunity 
T 


274  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

of  repairing,  if  possible.  Lis  lukewarm  omission o 
He  hardly  knew  how  he  divided  the  game  before 
him,  or  when  he  poured  out  the  wine,  which  lie 
took  with  some  one  at  the  further  end  of  the 
table,  just  putting  the  glass  mechanically  to  his 
lips,  his  only  thought  was,  "  I  have  denied  Christ ; 
I  have  been  unwilling  to  acknowledge  my  prin- 
ciples." 

"  Why,  Mortimer,  you  are  tired,"  said  Ford. 
"  You  played  like  a  trooper.  Glass  of  wine,  to 
keep  up  your  spirits." 

Others  recommended  this  infallible  panacea  for 
fatigue,  and  paid  equally  equivocal  compliments 
on  his  services.  Then  one  remarked  on  the 
"jollity"  of  the  evening,  and  every  failure  and 
success  was  recapitulated,  the  nature  of  music, 
and  certain  scraps  of  its  history  discussed,  with 
various  anecdotes  relative  to  the  point.  For 
the  wisdom  of  all  we  do  not  pretend  to  vouch. 
Then  one  started  a  novel  idea  in  defence  of  their 
eccentric  time :  '^  That  you  only  learn  rules  in 
order  to  break  them,  according  to  taste." 

"  Like  the  yeomanry,"  said  Frank.  "  As  the 
old  woman  said,  '  Only  look  at  the  soldiers  !  don't 
they  do  it  beautiful?  pulling  out  their  swords  all 
one  after  the  other ! '  I  maintain  that  time,  strict 
undeviating  time,  is  the  greatest  requisite  in  music, 
gentlemen." 

"I  defy  time,"  exclaimed  his  adversary,  from 
the  opposite  side  of  the  table.  "  I  say  melody, 
taste." 


DASHWOOD   nilOllY.  275 

"  Feeliug/'  cried  another. 

'■  Harmony/'  said  a  tliird. 

"  Noise/'  remarked  a  fourth. 

"Come;  you're  an  oracle,  a  judge  in  musical 
matters/'  said  Ford,  turning  the  attention  of  the 
company  towards  tlicir  important  companion,  who 
sat  with  a  sententious  face,  listening  as  though 
the  other  speakers  were  children. 

'•'  Now,  Ilalhcdj  you're  a  judge,"  was  the 
general  call  ;  but  there  was  something  so  mis- 
chievously expectant  in  the  tone,  that  any  one 
less  obtuse  would  have  declined  offering  an  opi- 
nion on  the  knotty  point.  iMr.  Halhed  was  not 
(juicksighted,  hoAvevcr,  and  on  being  addressed, 
he  gathered  himself  up  very  portentously,  and 
replied,  in  a  solemn,  deliberate  tone, — 

"  Demosthenes  was  once  asked  what  was  the 
first  requisite  for  an  orator.  lie  rephed,  'Pro- 
nunciation' He  was  asked  Avhat  was  the  second 
requisite.  He  still  replied,  '  Pro-nun-ci-a-tion* 
What  was  the  third  requisite, '  Pro-nun-ci-a-tion.* 
So  if  I  am  asked  what  is  the  chief  requisite  in 
concerted  music,  I  reply,  '  Unanimity.'  If  I  am 
ju'^kcd  what  is  the  second  requisite,  I  answer, 
'  U-na-ni-mi-ty.'  What  the  thii'd,  '  U-na-ni- 
mi-ty!'" 

This  oration,  delivered  in  a  pompous  and  ex- 
tremely solemn  nuumcr,  was  heard  throughout 
with  the  most  profound  attention,  but  was  haidly 
ended,  when  the  room  rang  again  with  peals  of 
laughter,  intermingled  witli  cries  of  "  Encore  !  " 

T    '* 


27G  DASH  WOOD    PRIORY. 

"  Bravo  !  "  "  You've  hit  the  right  nail  on  the  head, 
Halhed ! " 

Ford  patted  Halhed  ou  the  back  encourag- 
ingly, and  told  him  he  would  be  an  orator  before 
his  grandmother.  ^'  Unanimity 's  the  thing,  that's 
certain." 

The  oratoi-^s  gratification  was  apparently  doubt- 
ful, for,  after  looking  inquiringly  from  face  to  face, 
he  folded  his  arms,  and  sank  gloomily  back  in  his 
chair  with  compressed  lips,  while  Ford  filled  his 
glass,  and  pressed  him  to  drink  after  his  exertions ; 
and  then,  finding  his  efforts  vain,  he  proposed  Mr. 
Peter  Halhed's  health  in  a  bumper.  Then  Halhed 
grew  sulky,  and  would  not  return  thanks,  and  the 
noise  waxed  more  furious,  and  the  rebel  to  the 
customs  of  society  was  dragged  on  his  feet,  in 
spite  of  Louis'  earnest  remonstrance.  He  pos- 
sessed, however,  sufficient  obstinacy  to  adhere  to 
his  determination,  and  in  great  anger,  on  the  first 
convenient  opportunity,  took  up  his  cap  and  left 
the  room,  with  a  severe  remark  on  the  ungentle- 
manly  manner  in  which  he  had  been  treated. 

Louis  hoped  that  his  departure  might  be  a 
signal  for  a  break-up,  but  he  was  woefully  mis- 
taken, for  they  sat  on  and  laughed  at  Halhed,  and 
told  tales  of  him,  and  then  sang  songs  and  drank 
wine  so  fast,  that  Louis  Ijegan  to  be  seriously 
alarmed  for  the  consequences.  He  tried  to  draw 
Frank's  attention;  but  Frauk  eitlier  would  not 
understand,  or  was  not  inclined  to  notice  the  hint. 
At  length,  the  vocalists  having  exhausted  their 


DASllWOOl)    I'KIOltV.  ^1  t 

stock,  Louis  was  called  iii)ou  lor  his  contribution, 
having  twice  evaded  the  demand  pi*eviously. 
Frank  knocked  on  the  table  -with  the  handle  ot 
his  knife  to  command  silence. 

Louis  coloured,  and  rose. 

"  I  beg  to  be  excused,  gentlemen." 

"  No  excuses  !  "  cried  several  voices. 

Louis  still  remained  standing. 

"  It  is  time  Ave  concluded  our  Bacchanalia." 

"  Cough  him  down." 

And,  accordingly,  each  guest  was  immediately 
seized  with  a  violent  fit  of  coughing. 

Wlien  this  had  a  little  subsided,  Louis  essayed 
rgain. 

"  Frank,  you  are  a  man  of  honour ;  you  know 
my  hours  arc  early,  and  I  cannot  have  this  noise 
any  longer  here ;  I  am  sure  it  must  be  nearly 
twelve  o'clock." 

"Hear,  hear!"  cried  Frank,  "the  man's  de- 
mented ;  it's  not  so  by  mc." 

"Nor  by  mc,"  said  Ford,  "lam  afraid  our 
company  has  been  dull,  ^Mortimer?" 

liouis  looked  puzzled,  and  left  the  table  to  look 
at  his  watch  ;  the  hands  pointed  to  twenty  iniiuites 
to  eleven;  still  he  did  not  feel  convinced,  lie 
looked  doubtfully  at  the  party,  and  tluu  (piictly 
said, — 

"I  think  there  must  be  some  mistake;  1  will 
inquire  of  one  of  my  neighbours." 

Hut  l)cfore  he  could  execute  his  intention,  his 
progress    was  arrested    by   Ford,   wjio  [)laee(l   lii>. 


278  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

back  to  the  door,  and  then  locking  it,  put  the  key 
into  his  pocket.     Louis'  eyes  flashed. 

"  In  my  own  rooms,  sir  !  " 

"  In  my  own  rooms  !  "  echoed  Ford,  insolently. 
"An  Englishman's  house  is  his  castle.  When 
you  comply  with  our  civil  request.  You  know 
the  old  proverb,  '^  Birds  that  can  sing  and  won't 

sing .'     Come,  now,  don't  be  determined  and 

fiery,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing ;  you  lent  your 
rooms  till  eleven,  you  know." 

"  To  be  sure,"  said  Frank ;  "  and  by  the  united 
concurrence  of  our  watches  it  is  not  eleven  yet. 
They  can't  all  have  got  wrong  on  purpose  to  spite 
you,  Louis.  It  is  very  ungracious  of  you  to  want 
to  get  rid  of  us  so  soon.  Come,  sit  down ;  we'U 
go  at  the  proper  time ;  I  want  to  hear  a  little  more 
of  '  King  Arthur.'  Let's  see  if  we  can  do  it 
better." 

"It  is  against  aU  grammar  and  logic,"  said 
Hall,  "to  say  a  bad  thing  can  be  better, — bad, 
worse,  worst." 

"  Then  let  us  see  if  we  can  do  it  worse,"  re- 
plied Frank.  " '  Nothing  venture,  nothing  have.' " 

As  they  made  a  motion  to  move,  Louis  retm'ncd 
to  the  table,  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  say 
grace ;  but  before  he  could  say  a  word,  the  table 
was  vacated,  and  the  piano  surrounded  with  cla- 
morous cries  for  the  pianist.  Louis  lingered  a 
minute,  till  three  of  the  musicians,  one  on  each 
side,  and  one  behind,  forced  him  to  the  piano,  and, 
as  by  his  own  watch  it  was  not  the  hour  on  which 


DAbinVOOD    PRIORY.  279 

he  hnd  fixed,  he  mechanically  resumed  liis  occu- 
pation. 

"  I  say,  Ford,"  remonstrated  Hall,  "  we  have 
rather  too  much  noise, — too  much  horn  obbligato. 
Even  supposing  you  were  a  first  trumpet,  I  don't 
know  that  it  would  save  us  from  the  unpleasant 
consequences  of  keeping  the  dons  awake.  Entre 
nous,  rd  advise  you  to  keep  your  horn  a  little 
more  in  the  l)ackground." 

"  My  horn  !  —  no  envious  reflections,  base  in- 
siuuator  !  "  replied  the  accused,  blowing  a  blast 
of  defiance  ;  "  I  should  like  to  know  what  would 
become  of  the  music,  if  the  cornet-a-piston  were 
facet." 

"  We'll  show  you,  if  you  Avill  be  quiet  till  Ave 
get  to  the  end." 

"  Come,  Louis,"  said  Frank,  "  sing  this  with 
me." 

• '  Xo  more  now :  I  cannot  sing  any  more  to- 
ni'j:ht,"  replied  Louis,  rising  from  his  seat,  "  It 
is  now  past  eleven,  and  I  cannot  have  any  more 
music  here,  Frank.  I  have  relied  on  your  honour, 
and  now  you  must  go.  Remember,  I  am  respon- 
5il)lc  for  the  noise  in  my  rooms.  Mr.  Ford,  will 
you  unfasten  the  door?" 

"  I'll  sport  the  oak,"  said  Fold,  "  and  then  we 
may  set  the  dons  at  defiance." 

"  This  conduct  is  not  to  bo  borne,"  said  Louis; 
"  Frank—" 

"  My  dear  Louis,  you  arc  too  huffy,"  said  Frank, 
confidentially.  "Take  it  in  good  part  and  sing  them 


280  DASinVOOD    PRIORY. 

a  song,  and  we^ll  go.  I  shall  not  be  able  to  get 
them  out  without  it." 

But  Louis  was  inflexible.  He  seated  himself 
on  the  sofa,  and  would  not  be  cajoled  into  doing 
anything.  Ford  fastened  the  outer  door,  and  then 
relocking  the  inner,  commenced  a  vigorous  attack 
on  Louis,  whose  determined  resistance,  in  their 
excited  state,  only  incited  them  the  more.  He 
declared  at  length,  he  would  play  "  Britons,  strike 
home  \"  till  Louis  gave  them  a  song,  and  he  con- 
tinued bloAving  loud  blasts  till  his  friends,  in  self- 
defence,  took  their  several  instruments,  and  com- 
menced a  new  description  of  a  Dutch  concert,  on 
an  extended  scale.  But  the  uproar  was  by  this 
time  destined  to  receive  a  check. 

Mr.  Royston,  who  had  been  deeply  absorbed  in 
an  abstract  mathematical  calculation,  now  became 
sensible,  in  the  stillness  of  the  night,  that  an 
unusual  noise  was  proceeding  from  a  room  on  his 
side  of  the  "  quad,"  and  after  enduring  it  for  a  few 
minutes,  rose  and  sallied  forth  to  ascertain  whence 
it  issued.  As  he  left  his  rooms,  the  sounds  burst 
on  him  in  all  their  power,  and  directed  him  to  the 
place  whence  they  came.  He  had  nearly  reached 
Louis'  rooms,  when  he  met  Mr.  L.,  who  had  been 
roused  from  his  slumbers  by  the  same  uproar ;  and 
mutually  expressing  their  sm'prise  at  hearing  so 
much  noise  from  such  a  quarter  at  that  hour, 
they  proceeded  to  knock  at  the  closed  door. 

The  musicians  were  at  the  height  of  their 
uproa^,  and  wild  with  excitement.     At  first  the 


DASHWOOU    PKIOKV.  281 

repeated  knocking  did  not  arouse  them.  Louis 
was  the  first  who  heard  it,  and  starting  from  the 
sofa,  he  stilled  the  noise  for  a  moment  by  pointing 
to  the  door. 

"  Hey  !  what  V  said  Ford. 

A  loud  and  continued  rapping.  The  musicians 
listened,  and  Frank  with  open  mouth  and  eyes 
looked  from  one  to  the  other. 

"Nou;  ci-ai/'  he  said  at  length,  with  ludicrous 
solemnity — "  There  was  a  knock." 

"  The  enemy's  come,"  said  Ford. 

A  voice  was  now  heard,  but  what  was  said  was 
undistinguishablc.  It  was  answered  by  Frank  in 
the  same  tone,  " '  I  see  a  voice;  I  hear  a  face.'" 

"  Ford,  give  me  the  key,"  said  Louis. 

"  I  don't  know  what  I  have  done  with  it." 

"  Find  it  quickly  ;  or  some  one  break  open  the 
door  somehow." 

"  Now,  what  a  wasteful  young  gentleman  you 
arc  to  go  spoiling  good  locks  in  that  manner,'' 
said  Ford  ironically,  as  Louis  seized  tlic  poker 
and  began  to  exert  his  own  strength  on  the 
door. 

"  Frank,  help  me,"  he  cried.  "  I  have  not  the 
least  idea  how  to  do  this." 

But  Frank  seized  the  cornet-a-piston  instead, 
and  blew  the  first  few  notes  of  ''  Come,  if  you 
dare!"  and  the  others  stinudatcd  fiddled  away  in 
defiance ;  while  Louis,  after  vainly  using  the 
poker,  tried  a  knife  on  the  lock  and  broke  it.  At 
every  interval  of  the  noise,  the  outer  rapping,  and 


283  DASIIWOOD    PRIORY. 

a  command,  partially  audible,  to  open  the  door, 
was  heard,  but  in  a  few  minutes  it  ceased. 

"  The  enemy 's  routed,^'  said  Frank,  as  he  laid 
his  trumpet  down;  "and  I  think  we  had  better 
decamp  as  soon  as  the  coast 's  clear." 

"We  shall  get  into  a  pretty  mess,'^  said  one 
who  was  more  sober  than  the  rest.  "  We  have 
forgotten  that  the  dons  are  not  deaf.  Hadn't  we 
better  be  off  at  once  ?  It  only  wants  a  quarter 
to  one." 

"Frank!  is  this  your  honour?"  said  Louis, 
indignantly. 

But  Frank  was  not  to  be  touched  by  any  appeal 
at  present.  He  was,  however,  sufficiently  sensible 
to  the  necessity  of  going  immediately,  and  having 
prevailed  upon  Ford  to  find  the  missing  key,  the 
door  was  unlocked  and  the  instruments  shouldered. 

"  You  had  better  leave  them  till  to-morrow," 
said  Frank ;  "  you  will  run  better  without  them." 

There  was  a  grand  searching  for  caps,  and 
hardly  had  each  possessed  himself  of  one,  when 
the  knocking  was  renewed  with  double  fury. 

"  We  are  done  for,"  said  Hall. 

*^'We  are  not  without  arms,"  said  Frank, 
snatching  the  pistol  from  the  mantel-piece,  and 
planting  himself  firmly  opposite  the  entrance  as 
Louis  threw  open  the  door.  "  Stand  back,  who- 
ever you  are.    I'll  shoot  the  first  man  that  enters." 

The  words  had  hardly  passed  his  lips  when 
Mr.  Royston  entered,  and  a  loud  report  told  that 
the  threat  had  been  put  into  execution.     A  loud 


DASIIWOOD    rUIORY.  283 

cry  from  Louis  at  the  instant  the  weapon  was  raised 
V,  arned  the  good  tutor  to  stand  back,  and  a  kind 
prompt  hand  knocked  up  the  pistol  at  the  moment 
it  was  fired,  or  the  okl  man  had  never  spoken 
again.  The  bullet  whizzed  by,  and  lodged  in  the 
v.all  above  the  door.  There  was  a  dead  silence  of 
horror.  Frank  let  the  weapon  fall,  and  turning 
white,  staggered  against  Ford,  groaning,  *'  Oh, 
oil !  I  did  not  know  it  was  loaded  !" 

He  was  at  this  instant  seized  by  a  rough  hand 
and  pushed  behind  the  door,  and  Mr.  Royston^s 
voice  said  huskily,  "  Not  one  word,  sir ;  not  one 
word.     Don't  betray  yourself,  or — " 

He  did  not  finish  his  sentence,  for  a  frc.sli  party 
had  entered  at  the  moment.  What  passed  neither 
Louis  nor  Frank  could  well  say  they  knew.  They 
knew  that  an  investigation  Mas  going  on,  that  it 
was  discovered  that  the  pistol  was  loaded,  and 
that,  finally,  they  were  all  called  upon  to  give 
their  names,  and  were  led  each  one  to  his  rooms, 
with  an  injunction  to  keep  them  till  further  notice. 
Frank  longed  to  speak  to  Mr.  Royston,  but  that 
gentleman  talked  constantly  of  the  enormity  of 
the  sin  and  the  necessity  of  making  an  example, 
and  never  approached  liim,  nor  exhibited  the  least 
commiseration  for  him. 

When  all  were  gone,  and  the  last  footstep  had 
<licd  away  in  silence,  Louis  began  gradually  to 
realize  what  had  happened,  and  to  understand  tlie 
serious  position  in  which  he  was  placed.  He 
stood  with  folded  arms  for  full  ten  minutes  after 


284'  DASHAVOOD    PRIORY. 

his  door  was  closed,  looking  abstractedly  on  the 
desolate  scene  before  him.  He  then  threw  him- 
self on  the  sofa,  and,  burying  his  face  in  the 
pillow,  neither  moved  nor  spoke  for  an  hour ;  and 
when  he  next  raised  his  head,  the  room  was  in 
darkness.  He  threw  himself  on  his  knees,  and 
spread  his  case  before  his  God ;  and  gradually  the 
burden  grew  lighter,  and  a  consciousness  of  for- 
giveness for  his  part  in  that  night's  errors,  and  a 
conviction  of  blamelessness  with  respect  to  the 
uproar  came 4  but  then  as  fears  for  himself  were 
lightened,  those  for  his  cousin  increased.  With 
bis  usual  sweetness,  he  forgot  Frank's  breach  of 
word,  which  had  brought  him  and  the  whole  party 
into  the  scrape,  and  all  the  rough  usage  he  had 
received,  and  only  thought  of  the  trouble  in  which 
his  tormentors  were,  and  the  sliglit  hope  that 
appeared  for  any  of  them.  At  last,  worn  out,  he 
sank  into  a  light  doze,  and  Avoke  as  the  first  grey 
morning  light  stole  into  his  chamber,  and  exhi- 
bited to  his  view  the  wreck  of  the  previous  night's 
revelry; — remains  of  dishes,  broken  glass,  empty 
decanters,  stained  and  crumpled  tablecloth.  Here 
a  knife  and  fork  on  the  floor ;  there  a  black  bottle 
rolling.  A  violin  under  foot  in  one  direction ;  the 
obnoxious  cornet-a-piston  in  another.  Pieces  of 
music  in  various  parts,  with  loose  and  torn  leaves. 
He  looked  sadly  on  all,  with  a  fervent  determina- 
tion never  to  have  such  another  morning  sight  in 
his  rooms,  and  drew  back  the  partially-closed 
window-curtains.     Over  the  tops  of  the  opposite 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  285 

buildings  a  yellow  rim  of  light  was  gradually  dis- 
placing the  grey  mantle  of  early  morning;  and 
conspicuously  before  hira  in  solitary  sweetness,  as 
a  gleam  of  promise,  shone  the  fair  morning  star. 
The  stillness,  the  calmness  of  that  quiet  sky 
seemed  to  shed  its  influence  over  his  mind ;  and 
he  knelt  down  before  the  window,  and  in  the 
depths  of  his  full  heart  breathed  the  uuuttered 
petition  which  asked  everything  for  His  sake,  who 
has  said,  "  I  am  the  bright  and  morning  star  !  " 

When  he  rose  from  his  knees,  and  retired  at 
length  to  bed,  it  was  in  the  sweet  consciousness 
that  nothing  should  harm  hira,  that  all  would 
yet  be  well :  and  this  sweet  consciousness  comes 
often  to  the  trusting  child  of  God.  "  Who  shall 
harm  you,  if  ye  be  followers  of  that  which  is 
good  ?  "  The  world  cannot  understand  his  secu- 
rity— his  sure  confidence. 

Louis  Mas  in  a  heavy  slumber  when  the  scout's 
summons  roused  him.  He  answered  mechanically 
and  fell  asleep  again  till  the  chapel  bell  began  to 
ring;  when,  remembering  he  was  a  prisoner,  he 
dressed  deliberately,  and  went  into  liis  sitting- 
room,  now  comfortably  arranged  for  breakfa.st. 
He  had  scarcely  begun  to  make  his  coft'ee,  when 
the  door  was  unceremoniously  burst  open,  and 
Hamilton  walked  in,  in  a  state  of  great  excite- 
ment. He  closed  the  door,  and  then  stood  still 
near  it  as  Louis  rose,  and  without  noticing  his 
morning  welcome,  began — 

"  Louis,  Avhat  have  vou  been  aljout "'     Voii  liiive 


286  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

got  yourself  into  a  pretty  scrape,  now,  have  voit 
not  ?" 

As  Louis  did  not  answer,  but  stood  looking  at 
him  with  changing  colour,  Hamilton  commenced 
a  hasty  march  up  and  down  the  room,  without 
speaking.  Presently,  stopping  suddenly,  he  ex- 
claimed— 

"  What  possessed  you  to  have  that  wild  set 
here  ?  Louis,  you  want  looking  after  like  a  baby. 
Just  the  old,  old  story  !— the  old,  old  story  !  "  he 
continued,  resuming  his  march.  "  Well,  you  have 
done  it  now.  You  will  be  rusticated  as  sure  as 
fate — as  sure  as  fate,  if  not  worse ;  and  I  dare  say 
you  have  not  had  much  hand  in  it.  It  is  really 
the  most  vexatious  piece  of  busiuess.  Well,  you 
deserve  it,  too,  for  that  terrible  shilly-shallying 
habit  of  yours :  nothing  but  experience  ever  will 
teach  you  to  stand  by  youi'self.'^ 

Louis  placed  the  cup  he  was  holding  on  the 
table,  and  looked  steadily  at  Hamilton,  with  a 
face  from  which  all  colour  seemed  to  have  flowu, 
but  he  did  not  speak. 

"  You  seem  to  be  wonderfully  cool  and  uncon- 
cerned," said  Hamilton,  impatiently;  "  do  you 
understand  what  has  happened,  Mr.  Mortimer  ? ''' 

"  Quite,"  replied  Louis,  with  calmness ;  '^  quite  : 
but  I  could  not  help  it.  And  I  feel  I  am  not  to 
blame  even  for  having  them  here ;  and  if  I  suffer, 
it  will  be  with  a  clear  conscience." 

Hamilton  shook  his  head,  but  paused  in  his 
walk,  and  Louis  continued  : 


DASHWOOD    i'KIOllY.  287 

"  Sit  dowu  and  hear  mc  quietly ;  aud  perhaps 
you  will  thiuk,  after  all,  I  have  not  been  very 
much  to  blame." 

Hamilton  declared  he  could  hear  very  well 
standing;  and  Louis,  reseating  himself,  began  his 
story, — his  friend  moving  up  and  down  the  room 
at  intervals  till  it  was  concluded ;  when  he  drew 
near  the  fire,  and  taking  a  chair,  sat  for  a  few 
minutes  in  deep  thought.  Louis  Matched  the 
relaxed  expression  of  his  countenance  anxiously. 

''  Well,"  he  said  at  length,  "  it  is  better  than  I 
expected.  Mr.  Frank  deserves  everything,  he  does 
indeed.  He'll  get  a  pretty  lesson  this  time, 
however ;  I  am  glad  of  it." 

"  Hamilton  !  "  said  Louis,  reproachfully. 

"  A  man  who  sacrifices  his  word  of  honour  to  a 
practical  joke,  deserves  all  the  punishment  he 
meets  with.  Badly  as  I  have  always  thought  of 
his  low  joking,  I  did  not  think  that  of  Frank." 

"  Nor  did  I,"  said  Louis ;  "  yet  I  am  very  sorry." 

Hamilton  woidd  acknowledge  no  tenderness  of 
feeling  on  the  point. 

"  Had  he  kept  his  word,"  he  said,  "  it  would  all 
have  been  well.  He  has  brought  it  entirely  on 
himself;  he  has  no  one  to  blame  but  himself. 
Dear  me,"  he  continued,  very  gravely;  "what  a 
mercy — poor  fellow!  It  is  a  severe  lesson.  It  might 
have  been  still  worse.  Now,  Louis,  go  on  with  your 
operations.  I  will  take  some  breakfiust  with  you, 
and  then  1  shall  go  and  get  an  interview,  if  pos- 
sible, with  the  head,  and  set  this  matter  right." 


288  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

^'  Do  not  be  hard  on  Frank,  Hamilton/'  said 
Louis,  earnestly. 

"  I  shall  tell  the  whole  truth.  I  will  not  leave 
the  matter  half  done/'  replied  Hamilton,  decidedly. 
"  Of  course,  I  shall  do  Frank  no  avoidable  harm." 

Louis  proceeded  in  his  preparations,  while 
Hamilton  asked  where  he  could  find  a  sheet  of 
paper,  and  having  obtained  it,  sat  writing  rapidly 
at  the  breakfast-table,  even  after  his  cup  was 
filled,  and  a  couple  of  eggs  placed  near  him  by 
Louis'  silent  care.  He  turned  round  hastily  now 
and  then,  and  absently  partook  of  the  refreshment, 
till  at  length  pushing  aside  his  writing  materials 
with  a  "  That  will  do,"  he  set  to  work  more  seri- 
ously to  the  l)usiness  before  him,  and  talked  of 
one  or  two  common-place  subjects  to  Louis.  At 
last  he  rose,  and  bidding  Louis  a  hasty  adieu,  left 
the  room,  taking  with  him  the  paper  he  had  filled. 

He  paused  a  moment  on  the  staircase  outside, 
and  then  ran  up  to  the  landing  above,  where  two  of 
the  party  of  the  preceding  night  lived,  and  after 
a  hasty  knock,  walked  into  the  nearest  room, 
paper  in  hand,  to  the  owner,  who  was  lying  full 
length  on  the  sofa  reading  a  novel. 

"  I  have  but  little  time,  Mr.  Cox,"  he  said,  with 
a  slight  stiff  bow.  "  INIy  business  will  excuse  my 
intrusion.  I  believe  you  Mere  in  Mr.  Mortimer's 
rooms  last  night  ?  " 

"  I  was,"  replied  the  gentleman,  who  had  risen, 
at  first  not  recognizing  Hamilton,  whom  he  knew 
only  by  sight. 


DAsnwOOD    PUIOKY.  28J) 

"  "Will  you  do  me  the  favour  to  look  at  this 
|)ai)cr,  and  sign  it,   if  you  fiud  the  declaration 

COlTCCt  ?  " 

Cox  coloured,  and  taking  the  paper  from 
Hamilton's  hand,  glanced  over  it,  and  rubbed 
his  hand  over  his  mouth. 

"It  is  to  the  purport,  you  see,  that  Mr.  Mor- 
timer was  imposed  upon ;  that  the  time  of  his 
watch  was  altered,  and  his  door  forcibly  locked. 
It  is  truth,  and  you  cannot  as  a  gentleman  refuse 
to  sign  it.  I  have  come  to  you  first  as  the  nearest. 
I  shall  get  the  signatures  of  all," 

Cox  looked  at  Hamilton  doubtfully,  but  tlic 
calm  determined  gaze  he  met,  seemed  to  check 
some  coming  remonstrance,  and  he  took  the  paper 
to  his  desk  and  signed  it  without  a  word.  And 
with  another  stiff  bow,  Hamilton  retired,  and  j)io- 
cecded  on  the  same  errand  to  the  other  rooms. 

Forgetting  that  Frank's  room  was  on  the  same 
staircjisc  with  Louis',  he  made  all  his  other 
calls  first.  Mr.  Ilalhcd  cordially  bore  witness  to 
Louis'  gentlemanly  conduct,  by  declaring  he  was 
the  only  one  of  the  party  who  behaved  like  a 
gentleman.  Hamilton  wasted  no  time  auywliere. 
The  hist  visit,  before  returning  to  Louis'  staircase, 
was  to  Ford,  whom  he  found  carelessly  annising 
himself  with  a  chess  problem,  seated  before  the 
iire,  with  a  foot  on  each  hob,  whistling  the  wliile 
with  ajiparent  inditl'erence  to  conscciuences.  He 
removed  his  feet  on  Hamilton's  entrance,  and  ac- 
knowledged his  salutation  with  (nie  equally  distant, 
u 


290  DAsinvooD  piuory. 

asked  to  Avliat  lie  might  attribute  the  pleasure  of 
a  visit  from  him  so  early. 

"To  get  you  to  perform  an  act  of  strict  justice," 
said  Hamilton.  "  I  must  have  your  signature  to 
this  paper,  if  you  please." 

An  ironical  smile  passed  over  Ford^s  face  as  he 
glanced  over  the  declaration, 

"  Come  as  special  pleader  for  your  friend. 
Well,  suppose  I  don't  choose  to  put  down  my 
name  as  witness  for  his  good  conduct." 

"  There  is  no  alternative,"  said  Hamilton, 
quietly ;  "  unless  you  resign  your  claim  to  the 
title  of  gentleman.  Your  name  being  omitted 
v,^ill  only  reflect  upon  yourself.  You  can  give  me 
the  paper,  if  you  do  not  choose  to  sign  it." 

Ford  scowled  at  Hamilton,  and  deliberately 
began  to  read  the  writing,  Hamilton  standing  by 
without  evincing  any  of  the  internal  chafing 
which  the  intentional  tardiness  produced  in  his 
mind. 

"Either  your  name  or  the  paper,"  he  said  at 
length  :  "  I  can  wait  no  longer." 

Ford  slowly  produced  a  pencil-case  from  his 
waistcoat  pocket,  and  after  screwing  the  lead  up 
with  equal  deliberation,  very  slowly  wrote  his 
name,  and  still  retaining  his  hold  as  he  handed 
the  paper  to  Hamilton,  said, — 

"  I  presume  you  arc  bound  for  the  Head,  eh  ?  " 

"  What  then  ?  "  said  Hamilton,  coldly. 

"'  Because  lloyston — stop !  do  you  know  who 
fired  the  pistol?" 


DASIiWOOD    PRIORV.  291 

"  I  do/'  uas  liamiltou's  laconic  reply. 

"  Then  the  Head  doesn't,  that's  all.  Royston 
didn't  let  the  name  out,  and  he  -won't." 

He  looked  ver}'  hard  at  Hamilton,  whose  stern 
countenance  relaxed  in  the  slightest  possible 
degree,  and  returned  the  paper  as  he  added,  "  A 
uord  to  tlie  wise." 

Hamilton's  last  errand  was  to  Frank.  He  had 
met  Avith  a  ready  compliance  from  all  the  others, 
who  generally  expressed  their  sorrow  for  tlie  scrape 
into  Avhicli  they  had  got  Louis  in  common  Avith 
themselves,  and  for  the  manner  in  wliich  they  had 
returned  his  kindness. 

Frank's  breakfast  was  untouched,  nor  had  he 
made  any  attempt  to  begin  it.  The  breakfast 
things  remained  where  they  had  been  placed,  and 
the  kettle  was  sending  forth  huge  clouds  of  steam, 
unnoticed  by  its  owner,  v.dio  sat  with  one  elbow 
on  the  table,  his  chin  resting  on  his  hand,  with  his 
back  to  the  door.  lie  made  no  attempt  to  dis- 
guise his  distress,  and  Hamilton  was  almost 
shocked  to  see  the  change  one  night's  weary  A'igil 
had  mjido.  His  face  seemed  suddenly  to  have 
become  sallow,  and  his  eyes,  usually  so  full  oJ 
fun  and  fire,  were  leaden  and  dull.  His  haggard 
appearance  and  untidy  hair,  pushed  back  to  the 
iarthcst  extreme,  were  so  unlike  him,  and  Kjjokc 
of  80  much  trouble,  that  Hamilton's  stern  enthu- 
siasm for  Louis  yielded  to  a  sol'ter  emotion.  Frank 
looked  at  him  at  first  Jis  if  he  did  not  know  him, 
and  wishing  him  good  morning,  made  some  remark 
u2 


292  DAsnwooD  priory. 

;il)out  the  kettle  burning,  and  removing  it,  asked 
Hamilton  to  sit  down. 

"  I  liave  no  time,  thank  you ;  I  want  your  sig- 
nature to  this,  Frank.  You  l)ehaved  very  ill  to 
Louis  last  night,  and  this  is  ail  you  can  do  to 
repair  it.  He  must  not  suffer  for  your  want  of 
honour." 

"  Hamilton,  you  are  too  hard.'^ 

"  I  am  not,  Frank ;  he  relied  only  on  you,  and 
you  have  betrayed  him." 

"You  cannot  say  anything  that  I  do  not  feel. 
I  can  only  offer  in  apology  -what  you  would  not 
receive  as  such.  I  will  do  anything.  I  mean  to 
clear  Louis  fully  before  I  go, — as  soon  as " 

Hamilton  looked  compassionately  on  him,  but 
could  not  comfort  him.  Frank  fetched  the  ink- 
stand, but  his  hand  trembled  so  violently  when  ho 
took  the  pen,  that  he  could  not  write  his  name 
legibly  for  a  minute  or  two. 

"  I  don't  know  Avhether  they  can  read  it ;  but, 
Hamilton,"  he  added,  "  you  will  believe  me  now, 
though  I  have  not  been  as  good  as  my  word. 
Before  God,  I  did  not  know  that  pistol  was  loaded. 
I  never  thought  of  that." 

"  I  believe  you  from  m}'  heart,  Frank.  Poor 
fellow  !  "  replied  Hamilton,  squeezing  his  hand  ; 
but  he  gazed  steadily  and  almost  sternly  into  his 
pale  face,  till  his  gaze  brought  a  shade  of  colour 
there,  and  Frank  replied, — 

"  I  know  everything  you  say  there,  Hamilton. 
If  I  never  thanked  God  trulv  before    I  have  now 


DASinvooD  ruioiiv.  293 

for  that  wonderful  escape.  It  was  aii  insult  any 
how,  Hamilton,  I  should  not  have  offered,  had  I 
been  in  my  senses,  for — he — has  been  very  kind 
to  me.  Hamilton,  I  will  ^•E^ER  taste  another 
drop  of  wine  while  I  am  in  college;  but  that — it 
is  no  use  saying  about  that  now.     Good-bye." 

"  Come,  things  may  be  better  than  you  think," 
said  Hamilton,  kindly.  '*'  You  had  better  get 
something  to  eat ;  you  look  knocked  up." 

Frank  shook  his  head,  and  Hamilton  departed 
Avith  a  promise  to  call  in  again  when  he  had 
finished  his  errand.  "What  passed  in  the  inter- 
view Hamilton  readily  gained,  has  not  transpired  ; 
but  in  less  than  an  hour  he  returned  to  Louis, 
hearing  the  welcome  news  that  ;dl  was  straight  so 
far  as  himself  was  concerned  ;  and  while  he  was 
relating  all  the  interesting  particulars,  a  messenger 
arrived  commanding  Louis'  attendance  in  tlu; 
common  room,  where  a  few  words  released  him 
from  his  durance,  and'  gently  admonished  him 
against  bad  company,  kindly  alluding  at  the  same 
time  to  his  known  steadiness  and  exemplary  bclia 
viour  since  coming  into  residence,  and  recom- 
mending him  to  persevere  in  the  same  course  to 
the  end.  As  he  left  his  room  on  the  way  to  this 
interview,  Hamilton  said,  in  a  low  voice, — 

"  They  do  not  know  who  fired  the  pistol." 

However,  Louis  wjus  asked  no  (juestions,  and  left 
tlic  presence  without  any  obligation  of  saying  mon^ 
than  "  Thank  you.'' 

But    the    characters    of   th(>   rest   of  the  parly 


294  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

underwent  a  more  searching  ordeal.  Gate-books 
"were  scrutinized^  lecture  and  cliapel  lists  conned, 
and  notes  compared  :  and  here  Frank's  unremit- 
ting regularity  and  early  hours  stood  him  in  good 
stead ;  and  as  his  friends  generally  were  not  very 
flagrant  oflonders^  the  dons  seemed  inclined  to  be 
lenient.  In  vain  was  the  name  of  the  principal 
offender  demanded  of  jMr.  lloyston;  he  was  inflexi- 
ble^  and  spoke  so  bravely  and  warmly  on  the  hasty 
mistake  which  the  youth,  whoever  he  was,  was 
ruing  so  bitterly  at  the  moment,  that  all  expressed 
their  admiration  of  the  kindness  of  the  feelings  of 
their  colleague.  It  was  at  last  concluded  that  the 
gentlemen  should  be  reprimanded  and  "  gated/'  * 
and  the  matter  passed  over.  Two  of  them,  how- 
ever, of  whom  Ford  was  one,  were  laid  up  in 
remembrance  for  the  next  shght  offence,  as  many 
omissions  and  commissions  were  found  recorded 
against  them.  There  was  little  doubt  in  the 
minds  of  the  authorities  'as  to  tlie  real  offender, 
when  the  young  men  in  a  body  entered  the  room ; 
but  the  same  glance  which  revealed  all,  also  told 
that  the  punishment  was  enough.  Frank  stood 
motionless,  with  dull,  heavy  eyes  fixed  on  his 
judges,  as  if  he  expected  nothing,  heard  nothing, 
and  knew  nothing.  After  a  long  speech  on  the 
gross  impropriety  of  their  conduct,  the  Head  con- 
cluded with — 

"  This  offence  would  have  been   much   more 

*  /.  e.  (for  the  benefit  of  tbe  uninitiated),  confined  to  the 
college  after  dark. 


DASIIWOOD    PRIORY,  .'295 

severely  visited,  had  uot  ^Ir.  Roystou  refused  to 
give  up  the  name  of  the  guilty  party,  Avhoin  Ave 
should  have  expelled,  had  we  diseovcred  him.  As 
it  is,  considering  the  regul.arity  and  steadiness  of 
nearly  all,  "vve  are  -willing  to  pass  over  it  under 
certain  restrictions.  We  need  not,  we  hope,  re- 
commend that  the  first  use  you  will  make  of  your 
liberty  will  be  to  make  all  the  amends  ia  your 
power  to  ^Ir.  Koystou,  whom  you  have  so  gi'ossly 
insulted." 

Tiie  restrictions  were  then  named,  and  with  low 
])ows  and  thanks  for  the  leniency  shown,  the  party 
withdrew  to  Mr.  Roj'ston's  rooms  with  a  sense  of 
relief,  and  in  one  or  two  of  gratitude,  that  can  be 
understood  only  by  those  Avho  have  been  in  a 
similar  condition.  Ford  professed  to  make  light 
of  it,  but  no  one  followed  his  example.  Frank 
remained  behind,  and  as  the  last  entered  the 
room,  turned  towards  the  door  of  his  own.  He 
staggered  into  it,  and  sat  down  in  a  sort  of  giddy 
stupor,  till  he  supposed  the  ceremony  was  over  in 
the  tutor's  room.  He  met  his  friends  coming  out 
(juitc  recovered. 

"The  scene  is  over,  Digby,  but  you  won't 
escape  it.  Royston  behaved  very  well;  but  lie 
asked  where  you  were.  You  must  go  and  thank 
liim." 

"  Do  you  suppose  I  need  any  reminder?"  said 
Frank,  as  he  passed  them  and  entered  the  room. 
The  good  old  man  had  been  a  little  disappointed 
at  nut  seeing  Frank,  but  when  he  came  in.  all  was 
understood. 


296  DASIIWOOD    PRIOUY. 

Frank  removed  liis  cap  and  approaclied  a  few 
steps,  but  lie  could  not  speak;  lie  unclosed  his 
white  lips,  but  no  sound  came,  and  a  violent  fit  of 
shivering  came  on,  which  he  could  hardly  repress 
by  the  most  determined  efforts. 

Mr.  Royston  looked  and  waited. 

"  Never  mind ;  that  will  do/'  he  said  at  last, 
very  gently.  "  Poor  lad,  I  know  you'll  never 
cut  the  old  man's  coat  again,  eh  ?  there,  there." 

Frank  was  worn  out  with  intense  trouble,  fast- 
ing, and  his  sleepless  night.  He  began  :  "  Sir — " 
and  then  letting  his  cap  fall,  he  sank  on  one  knee, 
and  covering  his  face  with  both  hands  sobbed 
violently. 

"  There,  there,"  exclaimed  the  tutor,  removing 
one  of  his  hands  and  pressing  it  fondly.  "  Tliere, 
tliere  now,  no  more  crying ;  it  can't  be  helped. 
Boys'  frolic  : — it  was  a  serious  one  though,"  he 
said,  kindly  ;  but  his  own  eyes  were  filled  with  a 
moisture  that  did  him  honour,  and  his  hand  shook 
nearly  as  much  as  Frank's.  "  There  now,  get  up. 
You're  overdone.  These  late  hours  are  sad 
things.  I  know  you'll  be  more  steady;  come 
and  sit  down." 

Frank  raised  his  head,  and  with  an  effort  gasped 
out, — 

"  I  am  unworthy  of  yom'  kindness,  sir ;  I  did 
not  know  the  pistol  was  loaded.     Can  you  forgive 


me 


?" 


"  Nay,  I  don't  suppose  you  thought  of  killing 
anv   of   the   old  boijs,"  returned   Mr.   Royston. 


Ui.Jil,li)!ii 


x. 


frank  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Royaton. 


DAsinvooi)  riuoKY.  207 

"I'll  tell  you  what  you  must  do,  Frank;  you 
must  kneel  clown  this  day  and  thank  Him  who 
turned  that  weapon  aside.  You  know  I  don't 
mean  tliat  human  hand  :  no,  we  must  look  heyond 
that;"  he  said,  very  seriously.  "This  morning 
might  have  brought  no  relief." 

"  To  a  life-long  sorrow,"  murmured  Frank. 

"  And,  Frank,  you  must  think  seriously  before 
1 1 1 M  inhere  the  fault  lay ;  it  wasn't  wholly  in 
pointing  a  pistol." 

"No,  sir,  it  was  not,  indeed,"  replied  Frank, 
sinking  his  faee  on  his  hands  again.  "  Not  wholly 
indeed,"  he  murmured  indistinctly. 

]Mr.  Koyston  raised  him  up  and  made  him  sit 
down,  and  then  bustled  about  to  get  a  glass  of 
wine,  wliieh  he  made  him  drink,  and  watched  the 
cessation  of  the  violent  sfiivering  and  sol)s,  and 
made  him  warm  his  cold  hands. 

There  had  been  little  said,  but  !Mr.  Koyston 
understood  it  all,  and  resolutely  stopped  Frank's 
etfbrts  to  explain  his  emotions  of  gratitude  and 
sorrow,  both  almost  too  vehement  for  words.  It 
was  nearly  an  hour  before  Frank  returned  to  his 
rooms,  when  he  sported  his  oak,  and  long  remained 
iu  solemn  prayer  and  repentance  for  the  events  of 
the  last  few  hours. 

Frank  was  not  weak,  nor  did  impressions  easily 
wear  off  with  him.  He  adhered  strictly  to  his 
determination,  withstood  the  jeering  and  invita- 
tions of  liis  accniaintaucc,  aiul  never  tasted  wine 
all  the  remainder  of  his  college  career;  and   it 


298  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

was  remarked  that,  tlaougli  in  the  course  of  time 
his  love  of  fan  resumed  its  place,  he  never  planned 
nor  engaged  in  any  practical  jokes,  and  his  love 
and  attention  to  the  kind  old  tutor  were  only 
equalled  by  that  which  Mr.  Royston  lavished  on 
his  truly  reformed  pupil. 


DASH  WOOD    PRIOUY.  299 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

"  In  nil  thy  ways  acknowledge  Him,  and  He  shall  direct  thy 
paths." 

"  Coiiiniit  thy  works  unto  Him,  and  thy  thoughts  shall  be 
established." 

lo  irlumphe !  It  was  a  glorious  June  day,  Oxford 
swamicd  with  visitors :  beds  were  not  to  be  had 
at  the  principal  inns  for  love  or  money.  All  the 
fathers,  mothers,  brothers,  and  sisters,  to  say 
nothing  of  cousins  and  friends,  seemed  to  have 
crammed  themselves  into  the  venerable  city,  for 
the  grand  commemoration  of  benefactors. 

Early  in  the  morning  from  ever}-'  quarter  in 
which  a  college  stood  rushed  the  eager  gownsmen 
to  the  small  door  of  the  theatre,  each  one  desperate 
to  be  lirst,  pushing,  jostling,  and  squeezing  each 
other  withoutmercy,  the  foremost  rank  beingcruelly 
prcsscd  against  the  iron  rails,  pouring  out  tlircat 
after  threat  on  the  policeman  in  attendance  if  he 
did  not  admit  them  before  tlie  hour.  The  two 
nearest  the  door  were  Frank  Digbynud  Hamilton, 
for  Louis  was  the  successful  candidate  for  the 
English  prize  poem,  and  was  to  read  his  produc- 
tion before  the  assembled  multitude.  At  length, 
when  the  noise  and  imprecations  were  at  their 
licight,  the  door  was  suddenly  opened,  and  in 
rushed  the  mob.     Frank  and  Hamiltoii  ran  for 


300  DAS II WOOD    PRIOllY. 

their  lives ;  hundreds  were  after  them  mad  with 
excitement  for  the  front  row  in  the  under- 
graduates^ gallery ;  one  false  step,  and  whoever  it 
might  be  must  be  trampled  to  death.  Up  the 
narrow  staircase  they  tore,  and  the  three  foremost 
comers  attaining  the  entrance  to  the  gallery  at 
once,  were  all  jammed  in  the  doorway,  unable 
either  to  retreat  or  advance.  Suddenly  the  mights- 
force  behind  sent  them  all  through  with  a  violent 
jerk,  that  threw  them  forward  hardly  able  to 
regain  their  equilibrium ;  but  the  race  w^as  run, 
the  battle  Avon,  and  with  torn  shirt-collars,  ragged 
gowns,  missing  neckerchiefs,  and  other  mishaps, 
the  whole  body  tumbled  in  in  like  fashion,  and 
amid  hooting,  yelling,  and  laughter,  our  two  friends 
took  their  places,  in  the  most  convenient  situa- 
tion in  the  front  row,  congratulating  themselves 
on  their  success. 

Now,  though  it  may  to  some  appear  a  Avork  of 
supererogation  to  enlarge  on  the  scene  of  action, 
so  well  known  to  thousands  in  our  land,  and 
though  we  may  fairly  suppose  that  when  an  Oxford 
Guide-book  is  not  attainable,  a  kind  friend  may 
generally  be  found  to  supply  missing  details  on 
these  interesting  points,  yet  as  our  volume  is  in- 
tended for  those  who  have  not  yet  commenced 
their  own  life  at  Oxford,  and  may  be  read  by 
many  who  have  no  opportunity  of  enlightenment, 
wc  will  ask  those  famihar  with  the  scene  to  excuse 
us,  and  to  pass  on  wliile  we  endeavour  to  bring 
tlie  interior  of  the  theatre  1)cfore  the  eves  of  those 


DASllWOOl)     riUOKY.  301 

Avho  know  uotliiiig  about  it,  :;u(l  we  will  cuter  for 
their  bcuetit,  with  Hamiltou  and  Frank,  iuto  the 
hijj^hest  gallery,  a  large  roomy  light  gallery,  the 
only  fault  of  which  was  that  it  was  not  spacious 
enough  for  the  numbers  that  lawfully  or  luilaw- 
fully  ])ourc(l  into  it.  Above  their  heads  was  a 
beautiful  painted  ceiling;  but  as  the  gentlemen 
were  well  acquainted  Avitli  its  beauties  already,  it 
liad  no  attraction  for  them;  the  cynosure  of  every 
eye  being  a  puli)it,  considerably  beneath  them, 
but  elevated  above  the  heads  of  all  below.  There 
was  another  gallery  imdcrncath,  of  course  only 
partially  visible  to  the  undergraduates,  which  was 
tilled  with  ladies  in  full  dress.  Immediately  in 
front  of  the  ladic-s^  gallery  were  elevated  seats  for 
the  dons.  Opposite  the  entrance  into  the  gallery 
was  the  orchestra,  I'rum  under  which  the  college 
authorities  and  visitors,  who  claimed  entrance  to 
the  pit  or  body  of  the  Ijuilding,  entered.  There 
was  another  puli)it  immediately  under  Frank  and 
Hamilton,  facing  that  already  mentioned ;  but  with 
this  they  liad  little  interest,  as  it  was  not  in  any 
way  connected  with  the  Newdigate  hero. 

The  ladies  were  all  seated,  but  the  area  Ijclow 
was  empty  ;  and  pending  its  tilling,  the  noisy  occu- 
pants of  the  upper  gallery  amused  themselves  in 
their  own  way.  It  was,  par  vxrclleiicv,  their 
day,  when  their  frcj  opinions  of  things  in  general 
might  be  expressed  Avithout  fear  of  eouse(iuenees, 
and  a  good  use  they  made  of  it  as  far  as  lungs 
were  concerned.     The  continued  reuetition  of  the 


30.2  DASHWOOD   PRIOllY. 

question^  "  What  do  you  think  of  so  and  so  ? " 
applied  to  various  individuals  popular  or  ob- 
noxious, eliciting  vehement  cheers,  hisses,  or 
groans,  at  times  mingled,  was  varied  by  "  Three 
cheers  for  the  ladies  P'  "  Three  groans  for  the  proc- 
tors \"  laughter,  hooting,  and  all  the  other  attend- 
ants on  the  ceremon}-,  which  v.ould  defy  the  power 
of  pen  to  describe.  At  length  from  under  the 
orchestra  came  the  Vice-chancellor,  preceded  by 
the  bedelles,  and  followed  by  the  inferior  lumi- 
naries, who  all  took  their  places  in  the  seats  in 
front  of  the  ladies'  gallery.  Then  followed  the 
bestowal  of  the  honorary  degrees  on  the  "  most 
dignified,'^  and  "  most  illustrious "  personages, 
who  had  previously  been  deemed  worthy  of  the 
honour,  and  as  each  newly-made  doctor  passed 
into  his  place,  the  excitement  of  the  upper  gallery 
was  emitted  in  vociferous  cheers. 

Not  to  be  too  tedious,  we  will  pass  over  the 
following  forms,  and  the  Latin  verses,  to  which, 
though  recited  by  our  friend  Charles  Clifton,  the 
noisy  audience  paid  little  or  no  attention,  having 
apparently  established  tlie  principle  that  Latin  is 
a  "  bore,'' — and  make  way  for  the  hero  of  the  day, 
who  has  been  standing  back  in  the  riglit-hand 
rostrum  during  the  previous  recitation.  Louis 
had  been  summoning  up  his  courage  for  the  last 
two  days,  and  had  concluded  about  t\\'o  minutes 
before  his  entrance,  by  wondering  if  he  should  be 
able  to  say  a  word,  n-hen  he  foinid  himself  perched 
above  a  mass  of  heads  in  constant  motion  below 


Dvsiiwool)  ruiOKY.  303 

him,  while  on  his  right  liand  was  a  galaxy  of 
fashiou  and  beauty,  and  above,  hundreds  of  eyes 
all  anxious  to  see  him.  The  magnitude  of  the 
place,  the  glitter  and  beauty  around  him,  only 
.seemed  to  bewilder  him.  The  colour  rushed  furi- 
ously into  his  face,  and  his  first  impulse  was  to 
rush  out  again ;  but  while  the  orator  was  perform- 
ing his  part,  his  self-possession  gradually  returned, 
and  by  degrees  he  was  able  to  distinguish  his 
mother  amid  the  sea  of  ladies;  and  there  were  two 
faces  very  near  him  not  strange,  and  by  degi*ees 
he  remembered  the  likeness  to  his  old  friend 
Salisbury;  and  though  he  could  not  remember 
names,  he  was  sure  two  of  Fred's  sisters  were 
there.  Hamilton's  friendly  face  seemed  to  re- 
assure him,  and  he  recognized  more  than  one  of 
his  friends  in  the  upper  galler)%  though  his  position 
at  present  did  not  allow  him  to  see  any  old  faces 
down  below.  He  had  grown  quite  calm,  and  had 
:dmost  forgotten  he  was  to  play  any  part  in  that 
vast  audience,  when  his  turn  came,  and  lie  found 
himself  standing  he  knew  not  how  in  the  front 
instead  of  the  back  of  the  rostrum.  His  head 
swam  as  the  painful  idea  of  making  his  own  voice 
lio^rd  by  such  an  audience  rushed  over  him,  and 
his  only  thought  at  first  was,  "It  is  utterly  im- 
])ossiblc!  I  never  can  make  them  hear."  This 
conviction  fiashcd  across  his  miud  in  an  instant, 
as  the  tremendous  cheer  greeted  his  appearance. 
His  hands  grew  hot  and  cold,  but  as  liis  hesitation 
was   on  the   point   of  becoming  j)erceptiblc  and 


304  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

painful,  his  eyes  caught  down  below  the  figure  of 
his  father  and  Dr.  Wilkinson^  and  nerving  himself 
by  a  determined  effort,  he  began.  He  was  sur- 
prised to  find  how  distinctly  his  voice  sounded  in 
the  stillness  with  which  his  commencement  was 
received.  Now  it  was  that  the  early  care  bestowed 
on  him,  in  careful  reading,  and  his  late  practice 
with  Hamilton,  shone  forth ;  for  though  not  pos- 
sessed of  a  powerful  voice,  his  distinct  and  careful 
enunciation  let  not  a  word  fall,  and  as  he  pro- 
ceeded further  in  his  composition,  his  diction  be- 
came more  fervid  and  impassioned,  till  at  one 
slight  pause,  when  his  own  heart  had  beat  more 
warmly,  and  his  eye  fired  with  the  glory  of 
his  subject,  a  heart}^  burst  of  vehement  applause 
paid  a  tribute,  as  much  to  the  beauty  of  the  read- 
ing as  to  the  lines ;  and  these  were  allowed  by  all 
competent  judges  to  be  of  no  mediocre  order,  and 
far  surpassing  any  which  for  years  had  gained 
the  prize. 

The  poem  proceeded  through  the  four  great 
empires,  dwelling  slightly,  but  powerfully,  on  the 
varied  events  in  each,  pointing  to  the  development 
of  that  time  when  the  stone,  that  "  Stone  of 
stumbling  and  rock  of  off"ence,''  but  "  precious 
Corner-stone;"  that  little,  rejected,  insignificant 
stone,  yet  "  cut  out  of  the  everlasting  hills  witli- 
out  hands,"  '^neither  made  nor  crcated,^^  smoU^ 
the  image  on  its  feet,  and  bearing  all  down  by  its 
mighty  and  irresistible  force,  still  waxing  larger 
and  larger,  "  became  a  great  mountain,  and  filled 


DASHWOOl)    PKIOIIV.  005 

the  wliole  cavtli/'  Surely  it  Avas  a  theme  on 
•wliich  the  pious  young  heart  rejoiced  to  dwell, 
that  glorious  time  wheu  "the  knowledge  of  the 
glory  of  the  Lord  shall  cover  the  earth,  as  the 
waters  cover  the  sea;"  and  Louis'  soul  Mas  in  it, 
and  the  earnestness  of  his  utterance  and  the 
fervour  of  his  tones  seemed  to  create  a  kindred 
warmth  in  his  hearers  for  the  time ;  and  when  he 
concluded,  half  a  minute's  silence  honoured  the 
majesty  of  his  subject,  and  then  cheer  after  cheer 
arose  as  he  gracefully  bowed  and  quitted  the  scene 
of  his  glory.  And  where  did  lie  go  ?  His  heart 
■was  overflowing.  lie  waited  for  no  one,  not  even 
his  parents.  There  was  something  before  that; 
there  was  One  to  whom  the  first  vows  were  to  be 
j)aid  ;  and  regardless  of  all  else,  he  hurried  to  his 
rooms,  and  shutting  the  door,  rushed  into  his 
bedroom. 

"This  is  too  much,  O  my  God  I  This  honour 
for  me  !    I  am  not  worthy  of  it." 

And  he  raised  his  hands  and  tearful  eyes,  as  he 
sank  on  his  knees,  "  Oh,  that  I  could  jjraise  Thee  ! 
Let  my  life  praiseTJjee!  This  for  iiie,  an  unprofitable 
servant !    Oh,  give  me  a  truly  thankful  heart." 

Then  tiie  full  tide  welled  up  aiul  stopped  utter- 
ance. His  father  and  mother — the  joy  of  giving 
them  that  happiness!  Could  a  life  of  entire 
devotion  repay  one  titlic  of  the  mercies  Ik;  had 
j'cceivcd?  for  it  was  not  this  one  alone,  but  all 
seemed  to  rise  up  before  him,  and  amidst  all,  that 
great  one,  that  he  was  able  to  be  thankful. 
.\ 


306  DASIIWOOD    miORY. 

It  was  some  time  after  he  had  left  the  theatre, 
when  a  party  who  had  been  vainly  searching 
tverywhere  in  the  vicinity  of  his  Honour  for  thc^ 
hero  of  the  day^  entered,  and  among  them  were 
his  parents,  Neville,  Hamilton,  Frank,  Charles 
Salisbury,  and  Dr.  Wilkinson.  More  Avere  behind, 
but  a  degree  of  respect  for  his  parents  kept  theni 
from  pressing  into  the  room. 

"  \Yliere  can  he  be  ?  "  was  reiterated  in  various 
tones.  "  Louis,  you  runagate ;"  "  Mortimer,  you 
defaulter.^'  "  Here's  his  poem  :  he's  in  his  bed- 
room.'" 

"Then  we  will  wait/'  said  Mr.  Mortimer. 
"  But  here  he  comes." 

The  noise  had  aroused  him,  and  he  entered  the 
room  directly,  with  a  most  happy  expression  and 
moistened  eyes  that  told  of  much.  There  was 
nothing  heard  for  some  time  but  congratulations 
and  praises.  He  shook  hands  with  all  by  turns, 
receiving  their  congratulations  in  silence,  for  he 
could  not  speak.  His  father  looked  so  proudly  on 
him,  his  mother  was  almost  as  tearfully  happy  as 
himself,  and  Dr.  Wilkinson's  excitement  was 
nearly  equal  to  Hamilton's. 

"  I  always  thought  you  a  bit  of  a  poet,  Louis," 
said  Charles  Salisbury.  "But it  seems  wonderful 
to  me  how  you  can  '  spin  such  a  yarn,'  as  Fred 
would  say,  in  verse.  However,  I  think  I  could 
almost  try,  to  have  the  ladies  as  mad  after  me  as 
they  all  are  about  you." 

Louis  smiled. 


DASnWOOD    PUIOllY.  307 

"  But  the  reading,  Louis,"  said  Hamilton  :  "  it 
was,  after  all,  a  masterpiece." 

"It  was,"  said  Dr.  AVilkinsou.  "1  felt  proud 
to  own  you." 

"  You  must  not  say  any  more,"  said  Louis ; 
"  my  head  will  be  turned.  I  wish  I  had  some 
wine  to  offer  you ;  but  I  never  take  it  myself,  and 
I  have  none  at  present." 

"  Never  mind  that,  my  boy,"  said  his  father ; 
"  I  shall  do  the  honours  to-day :  you  are  to  be  my 
guest." 

They  all  sallied  forth  to  the  "  Mitre,"  where 
dinner  was  ordered,  and  there  were  more  old 
friends — Nevinson,  and  Miss  and  Miss  Fanny 
Salisbury,  with  an  aunt  who  had  chaperoned 
them ;  and  there  were  more  compliments  to  be 
paid,  and  finally  they  sat  down  to  dinner;  and 
though  Louis  was  very  silent,  his  friends  made 
amends  for  his  taciturnity,  and  obliged  him  to 
return  thanks  for  having  his  health  drunk  before 
they  retired.  Louis  was  obliged  to  return  to  his 
collc,i,'c,  but  not  before  a  very  pleasant,  though, 
perluips,  rather  noisier  evening  tlian  he  could  have 
liked,  liad  passed.  The  Salisburys  departed  for 
the  "  Star"  as  he  left,  and  as  he  bid  them  good- 
bye, Fanny  dropped  a  couple  of  rosebuds,  with 
which  she  had  been  playing. 

As  Louis  picked  them  uj),  Cliarlcs  said, — 

"  Keep  them,  Louis;  slic  meant  them  in  honour 
of  you,  but  was  too  shy  to  give  tliem.     You  will 
let  him  have  them,  Fanny  ?" 
x2 


308  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"Certainly,  if  Mr.  Mortimer  likes  tliem/' 
replied  Fanny,  with  a  merry  laugh ;  "  but  if  he 
takes  my  advice,  he  will  throw  them  in  the  gutter. 
Faded  rosebuds  are  not  for  orators,  are  they 
Mr.  Mortimer?" 

Louis  laughed,  but  he  did  not  throw  thera  away 
till  he  reaehed  his  rooms,  where  they  both  dis- 
appeared somewhere,  and  were  afterwards  very 
mysteriously  found  in  his  trowser-poekets  when 
he  arrived  at  the  Salisburys  (where  he  spent  two 
or  three  days  before  he  returned  to  Dashwood), 
whence  he  soon  transferred  them  to  a  box,  in 
remembrance  of  the  great  day  of  the  Newdigate. 
Mr.  Mortimer  accompanied  Louis  to  the  college, 
and  left  him  at  the  gates.  Long  he  remained  in 
silent  meditation ;  his  slumbers  that  night  were  as 
light  as  an  infant's. 

We  know  how  softening  an  influence  sorrow 
has  upon  the  heart ;  and  we  know,  also,  that 
prosperity  generally  tends  to  render  it  more  care- 
less, and,  unless  upheld  by  the  unfailing  grace  of 
the  Blessed  Spirit,  less  spiritually  minded.  Yet 
there  are  some  kinds  of  prosperity,  some  honours, 
which  exercise  the  same  influence  as  trial.  They 
seem  too  much  to  bear, — too  much  for  our  desert, 
— too  great  a  boon  for  one  so  ungrateful — when 
the  whole  being  seems  pressed  down  under  that 
goodness  which  encompasseth  it.  It  is  not  that 
all  our  mercies  are  not  more  than  we  deserve ;  our 
daily  mercies  need  call  forth  a  weight  of  grati- 
tude ;  but  because  they  are  daily,  we  seldom  notice 


nAsin\ouD  ruiouv.  309 

them,  especially,  unless  the  Lord  reminds  us,  as 
Jaeob  of  old,  to  build  an  altar  of  praise  for  those 
blessinffs  we  have  forgotten.  Louis'  prosperity 
was  of  the  softening  kind,  and  he  was  not  unsea- 
sonably exalted  thereby. 


"/".vxr^-^-^ 


310  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 


CHAPTEE  XX. 

"  They  that  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships,  that  do  business  in 
great  waters  ;  these  see  the  works  of  the  Lord,  and  His  wonders 
in  the  deep.  O  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord /or  His  good- 
ness, and  for  His  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men !" — 
Ps.  cvii.  23,  24,  31. 

Hail,  lioly  Sabbath  !  They  who  love  thee,  seem 
to  think  thy  skies  should  ever  be  bright  and 
unclouded. 

Brightly  dav/ned  one  Sabbath  morning  in  July, 
18 — ,  and  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  on  the  broad 
chcumference  of  the  horizon,  unbroken  by  any 
object,  save  the  fleecy  clouds  and  the  hulls  of  a 
few  distant  vessels,  the  brightness  of  the  coming 
sun  shed  his  fair  rays,  chasing  stars  and  twilight, 
and  gradually  displayed  his  splendour  to  the  eyes 
of  the  thoughtful  midshipmen  who  paced  the  deck 
of  the  Hippolyta,  keeping  their  morning  watch. 
One  of  them  was  a  line  tall  fellow,  with  head 
as  erect  as  if  his  six  feet  of  length  had  never 
bent  to  five  when  he  stowed  himself  away  in  the 
middy's  berth.  An  incipient  pair  of  whiskers 
and  a  slight  moustache  told  of  coming  manhood, 
while  the  almost  infantile  sweetness  of  his  beau- 
tiful mouth  and  the  clear  expression  of  his  blue 
eyes  betokened  a  youthfulness  again  contradicted 


DASHWOOD    rUIOKY.  311 

by  his  broad  shoulders  and  manly  voice.  He  was 
not  always  so  thoughtful;  his  roaring  hearty  voice 
•was  generally  one  of  the  foremost  in  mirth  and 
merriment;  but  the  calmness  of  that  morning 
seemed  to  have  spell-bound  him ;  his  lips  were 
iirmly  closed,  and  his  earnest  gaze  was  fixed  on  a 
distant  cloud  with  an  intensity  that  seemed  to 
allow  of  no  other  thought.  The  cloud  did  not 
move;  others  swc])t  past  gloi'iously,  gr:uidly;  tlio 
sun  held  his  course  and  lighted  the  dark  line  in. a 
a  white  streak.  The  middy's  companion  at  length 
rallied  him  on  his  silence ;  but  he  did  not  hear, 
and  straining  his  eyes  more  eagerly  for  a  few 
seconds,  he  suddenly  lifted  his  blue  cap,  and  waved 
it  above  his  head. 

"  Old  England  for  ever !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  Land  ! — where  ?  "  asked  his  companion. 

"  I  don't  see  anything,  Salisbury." 

Salisbury  waved  his  cap  in  the  direction  of  the 
lire,  and  his  friend  directed  his  glass  to  the  point. 
•Sure  as  a  gun!"  he  said;  and  letting  the 
glass  fall  to  the  length  of  the  leathern  strap  to 
which  it  was  attached,  tossed  his  cap  in  the  air 
with  a  loud  "Hurrah!"  just  as  a  voice  from 
anotlier  part  of  the  ship  proclaimed  the  welcome 
fact.  There  having  been  some  little  delay  in 
changing  the  man  at  the  masthead  at  the  morn- 
ing watch,  our  midshipman  had  the  happiness  of 
announcing  their  near  arrival  Hrst.  Oh !  how 
wildly  the  hearts  beat,  whether  young  or  old,  that 
morning.     The  three   years'    voyage   was  nearly 


313  DAsinvooD  Piiiijiiv. 

over^ — the  fatliciland  was  iu  siglit^ — and  a  pros- 
})erous  wind  Avas  bearing  the  gallant  frigate  toward;?- 
its  shores.  We  trust  there  Avere  not  a  few  wlia 
felt  that  a  mightier  power  than  man's  skill  had 
kept  them  safe.  The  nearness  of  eternity  is  too 
often  brought  immediatel}''  before  the  sailor  to  be 
wholly  unnoticed. 

As  the  morning  wore  on,  the  coast  became  more 
A  isiblC;  and  they  could  see  the  divisions  of  many 
white  cliffs,  and  Avith  glasses  discoA'cr  the  tall 
landmarks  the  lighthouses,  and  here  and  there  a 
tOAver  either  of  castle  or  church.  At  the  usual 
hour  all  hands  Avere  summoned  to  prayers; — and 
surely,  if  ever  an  attentive  congregation  kneeled 
on  that  deck,  or  listened  to  the  Avords  of  the 
chaplain,  it  was  on  that  day,  Avhen  fluctuating 
hope  and  fear  made  the  heart  feel  there  was  no 
help  but  in  the  Lord.  The  clergyman  took 
his  text  from  the  hundred  and  seventh  Psalm, 
from  the  tAventy-third  to  the  end  of  the  thirtj'-first 
verse ;  and  Avhile  reminding  his  hearers  of  the 
many  perils  from  Avhich  the  Lord  had  delivered 
them,  he  called  on  them  to  "  praise  the  Lord  for 
His  goodness."  "  When  the  stormy  wind  arose, 
and  the  wonders  of  the  Lord  in  the  deep  made  all 
hearts  to  melt  because  of  trouble,  hoAv  many  of 
you,  my  friends,  voAved  unto  the  Lord  in  that 
trouljle.  Who,"  continued  he,  solennily, — "  who 
has  remembered  those  voavs  ?  Who  has  paid  them 
to  the  tender  Guardian  Avho  '  never  slumbered  nor 
slept  ? '    Better  that  thou  shouldest  not  voaa',  thau, 


DAsiiwooD  ruiouY.  313- 

tliat  thou  shouldest  vow  and  not  pay.  I  call  upon 
all  to  magnify  the  Lord  -with  me.  Let  us  exalt 
His  name  together.  AVe  called  upon  Ilim,  and 
lie  heard  us,  and  delivered  us  from  all  our  fears. 
'Oh  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord  for  His 
goodness  \'  " 

But  he  did  not  here  conclude.  "  How  were 
tlicy  to  praise  the  Lord?  Not  only  with  the  lips, 
hut  in  the  life.  By  a  life  entirely  devoted  to  His^ 
service.  Let  them  declare  among  men  His  praise. 
Let  the  life  He  spared  and  the  gifts  He  has  bestowed 
l)e  all  used  to  His  glory.  Let  the  talents  be  put 
out  to  interest,  that  at  His  coming  He  may  receive 
His  own  with  usury." 

Tlic  clergyman  dwelt  much  on  tliis  jiart  of  liis 
lecture,  particularly  addressing  himself  to  the 
young  officers;  and  Frederick  Salisbury  sat  with 
grave  brow  and  parted  lips,  thinking  how  many 
things  he  had  neglected.  The  service  was  over, 
and  now  they  ncared  the  coast ;  the  few  hours^ 
had  brought  them  in  immediate  sight,  and  they 
passed  on  their  way  so  close,  that  as  the  afternoon 
wore  on  they  could  see  the  people  passing  along 
to  ciiurch  ;  and  the  midsliipmen  were  either  in 
high  spirits  or  silent  witli  great  excitement,  for 
eacli  young  heart  had  flown  to  its  own  liume,  and 
fancied  the  Sunday  occupations  of  caili  clear  one ; 
and  they  dared  not  uhispcr  the  shade  of  appre- 
hension that  glided  over  the  mind  lest  one  dear 
one  should  be  missing. 

The  tedious  time  slipped  by,  and  at  length  the 


314  DASHV.OOD    PRIOKY. 

Hippolyta  anchored  at  Sheerness ;  and  having 
obtained  leave  of  absence^  Salisbury  was  not  long 
in  finding  a  passage  in  one  of  the  packets  from 
thence  to  London ;  and  after  a  due  transit  through 
the  Custom  House^  he  found  himself  steaming  up 
the  Thames  at  the  rate  of  ten  miles  an  hour,  clad 
in  Tvhite  trowsers  and  a  rough  pilot-coat,  and 
retaining  no  mark  of  his  attachment  to  Her 
Majesty^s  service,  save  the  little  blue  undress  cap, 
which  was  perched  on  his  head  rather  on  one 
side,  allowing  the  light  curly  hair  to  display  itself 
in  the  most  becoming  manner;  and  too  happy  and 
restless  to  sit  still,  he  walked  rapidly  up  and  down 
the  deck,  with  his  hands  shoved  into  the  loose 
pockets  in  the  front  of  his  coat,  humming  and 
smiling  most  radiantly,  with  a  word  for  every  one 
in  his  way, — now  stopping  to  amuse  a  cross  child, 
— now  picking  up  a  fallen  basket  or  handkerchief 
of  some  lacly  passenger, — anon  descanting  on  the 
weather  with  the  men,  or  "blowing  up"  steam- 
boats to  the  gentlemen.  But  wherever  his  frank 
handsome  face  turned,  it  won  sympathy,  and 
seemed  to  shed  a  sunny  beam.  At  last  he  at- 
tached himself  to  a  couple  of  ladies,  a  mamma 
and  daughter,  to  whom  he  had  introduced  himself 
by  proffering  a  newspaper  he  had  bought  at  the 
landing-place;  and  furthermore,  by  the  dexterous 
manner  in  which  he  extricated  a  favourite  dog 
from  a  perilous  situation ;  and  before  long  he  had 
prevailed  upon  them  to  accept  his  escort  for  a 
turn  up  and  down. 


DASUWOOD    rillOKY.  315 

"  I  tliink  I  need  not  ask  if  you  have  sisters/' 
said  tlic  mamma,  smiling. 

"  Lots  of  them/'  said  Salisbury,  gleefully. 
"  It's  liard  work,  ma'am,  for  a  poor  sailor  to  be 
banished  for  four  years  with  no  ladies  but  the 
Chinese  houi-is." 

"  You  are  a  large  family,  then  ?  " 

"  Twelve  of  us/'  replied  the  gentleman. 

"Does  your  mother  expect  you  home?" 

A  slight  shade  passed  over  his  face  as  he 
:iTi>wcred. 

'•  I  sent  them  a  line  two  days  ago,  but  there's 
no  one  to  meet  me  here.  I  am  afraid  it  missed 
its  moorings." 

"  You  expected  some  one  to  meet  you,  then  ?  " 

"  To  be  sure.  Never  mind,  though ;  they'll  be 
all  the  more  surprised.  Look  out ! "  he  cried, 
catching  hold  of  a  inau  who,  disturbed  by  the 
motion  of  the  vessel,  jolted  rather  roughly  against 
his  charge :  "  Mind  the  ladies  !  " 

"  Beg  pardon,"  said  the  man.  "  Portraits 
taken,  sir?  Portraits  taken,  ma'am.  One  shil- 
ling: only  one  shilling,  black  profile,  sir." 

"  I  think  I  will,  though :  mother  or  little  Fan 
will  like  it/'  he  replied. 

"  I  would,"  said  the  lady.  "  Suppose  avc  sit 
down  here,  and  then  wc  can  see  the  process." 

"  It  is  a  very  ungallant  thing  of  me  to  let  you, 
ladies,  sit  down  for  my  fancies/'  said  Salisbury ; 
"  it  will  do  when  you  arc  tired." 

"  Oh,   but  I  am  very  tired,"   said  the  young 


316  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

lady,  langliing :  "  I  have  only  been  hoguiled  into 
walking  a  little." 

Salisbury  raised  his  cap,  and  immediately  found 
a  seat  with  a  back  to  it  for  the  elder  lady,  and  a 
less  convenient  one  for  the  younger  and  himself; 
and  amid  much  merriment  the  profile  was  taken. 
It  was  pronounced  very  like  by  the  younger  lady, 
and  by  the  elder  not  handsome  enough.  Salisbury 
himself  was  quite  satisfied,  and  decided  that  his 
relations  ought  to  be  so  too ;  for  it  was  handsome 
enough  for  him, 

"  Here's  your  shilling ;  though  I  think  you 
might  have  made  a  fellow  as  handsome  as  he 
ought  to  be,  while  you  were  about  it." 

"  You  could  not  expect  black  paper  and  scissors 
to  express  your  eyes  and  complexion,  sir,"  said  the 
man ;  "  that's  all  it  wants." 

"Come,  that's  handsome.  I  am  very  like  a 
black  swan,  as  we  used  to  say  at  school,"  remarked 
Salisbury  almost  to  himself,  as  he  looked  more 
steadily  at  the  portrait,  and  a  deeper  smile  shone 
out  of  eyes  and  mouth,  wlien  he  caught  in  it  tlic 
resemblance  to  his  eldest  sister. 

It  was  mid-day  when  they  reached  London,  and 
after  seeing  his  new  friends  safely  to  a  hackney 
coach,  he  procured  another  for  himself,  and  set 
off  for  the  Paddington  station,  where  the  then 
half-finished  railway  to  Eristol  commenced,  and 
reached  it  just  in  time  to  take  his  place  by  the 
next  train.  We  will  not  dwell  upon  the  incidents 
of  the  next  few  hours ;  how  wonderfully,  as  if  by 


DASmVOOD    I'RIOKV.  317 

magic,  his  frank  simplicity  charmed  the  passengers, 
and  drew  the  cliildren  to  him  as  tliongh  they 
knew  instinctively  that  he  liad  some  little  ones 
waiting  at  liomc  for  him;  how,  in  his  impatience 
of  the  tardiness  even  of  steam,  -wlicn  they  nearod 
T'arriugdon,  he  pushed  his  feet  forward  as  if  his 
impotent  exertions  could  quicken  the  moving 
mass.  Oh,  sailor  !  perhaps  thoughts  of  the  guar- 
dian care  that  reserved  thee  and  thine  for  tliat 
happy  meeting,  stole  over  thee  wlien  in  the  dusky 
sliadc  of  the  coming  twilight  tliou  ncaredst  thy 
beloved  home. 

The  coachman  set  him  down  at  tlie  turn  of  the 
road,  near  which  the  house  stood,  and  then, 
though  the  high  wall  Avith  its  well-known  gate  was 
so  near,  something  deterred  him  from  hurrying 
up;  a  kind  of  dread  stole  o\cy  him;  "lie  had 
not  heard  for  so  long — why  had  no  one  met  him  ?" 
lie  stood  still  irresolutely,  looking  at  the  dark 
n  aving  branches,  till  aroused  by  the  whistling  of 
a  passer-l)y,  a  labouring  man. 

"  A  good  evening  to  you,  sir." 

"  Ahoy,  my  man,"  said  Salisbury,  rousing  him- 
self from  his  trance.  "  Lend  a  hand  here  with 
this  chest  up  to  yon  gate." 

"To  Mr.  Salisbury's?"  asked  the  man,  turning 
and  seizing  a  handle  of  the  large  chest.  "  lie 
be  heavy,  ])ain't  he?  lie  must  hold  a  mort  of 
things.     Yon  be  come  from  foreign  parts,  sir?" 

"Ay,  a  long  way — from  China.  Do  you  know 
}iow  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Salisburv  are':'" 


318  DASIIVrOOD    PRIORY. 

"Nay,  I  knows  nought  about  'em,  sir;  'cept 
as  tliey  lives  at  yon  house." 

Poor  Sahsbury's  heart  sank  more  than  when 
he  forced  his  lips  to  put  the  question.  He  "wished 
the  man  "  good  night/'  after  bestowing  a  shilling 
on  him,  and  stood  looking  doubtfully  in  at  the  gate. 
He  could  see  the  drawing-room  windows  where 
he  stood,  and  the  nursery  above.  The  latter  were 
open,  and  the  sound  of  some  little  voices  issued 
thence.  Presently  the  sound  of  a  piano,  and  a 
well-known  song  below,  broken  off  in  the  middle 
by  a  hearty  laugh,  in  which  many  voices  joined, 
reached  him.  Then  his  mother's  tones,  and  though 
he  heard  no  words,  he  could  hold  out  no  longer. 
Pulling  the  bell  with  all  his  might,  he  shouted 
"Ahoy,  there!  ladies,  ahoy!"  with  that  tre- 
mendous stentorian  efi'ect  only  belonging  to  the 
sailor,  but  which  when  once  heard  can  never  be 
forgotten,  and  when  once  sent  forth  with  "  a  will," 
has  a  peculiar  way  of  making  itself  heard.  There 
was  a  pause. 

"  A-h-oy,  ladies  !  " 

Then  a  scream  of  "  Fred  !  Fred  !  "  and  boys 
and  girls  all  rushed  out  of  the  low  window,  and 
before  the  servant  had  arrived,  the  gate  was  flung 
wide  open,  and  Sahsbury  was  amongst  them — not 
one  was  missing,  all — all  had  been  spared  to  wel- 
come him  back  :  the  dearest  mother  in  the  world — 
the  kind,  fond  father — the  proud,  loving  sisters — 
and  the  hearty  brothers  in  turn  presenting  them- 
selves ;  and  little  Kate,  and  the  little  brother,  now 


I 


DASU^OOD    PRIORY.  319 

no  longer  a  baby,  Avcre  brought  doMn  half-dressed 
for  their  sliare  of  the  embraces. 

"  How  he's  g;ro^vn,  mamma.  Wliat  a  brown 
face  he's  got  now/'  cried  Etheh-cd. 

"And,  mamma,  here  are  the  whiskers  too  at 
last,  but  not  quite  so  bushy  as  you  feared ;  and 
he  rerdly  looks  a  man." 

"  But  I  really  thought  Fred  would  come  back 
with  his  blue  coat  on,  mamma;  and  his  sword, 
mamma,  mamma,"  persisted  Marianne  a  great 
many  times. 

"  But  where's  little  Fan?  and  I  thought  John 
was  at  homCj  poor  fellow,"  said  Salisbury,  when 
after  the  general  embraces  he  began  to  distinguish 
who  was  away. 

"  They  are  out,"  said  Edith.  "  Your  old  school- 
fellow Louis  Mortimer  is  spending  a  day  or  two 
with  us,  and  they  are  all  gone  out  together  in  the 
garden  somewhere." 

"  Did  not  you  get  my  letter?" 

"  No ;  we  had  no  idea  you  were  coming." 

"  That's  strange.     How's  John,  now  ?  " 

•'  He  is  quite  well,  and  so  kind  and  thoughtful. 
Oil,  Fred !  you  will  love  him  more  tlian  ever. 
Here  they  are,"  said  Edith,  as  Fanny  rushed  in 
and  threw  herself  into  her  brother's  arms,  having 
been  informed  on  her  entrance  by  the  eager  ser- 
vant tliat  Mr.  Fred  was  come.  John  and  Louis 
followed. 

"  How  curious  that  I  shouhl  1)C  licrc  on  your 
return."   said   Louis,  when  the   first   rcco'^nitiou 


320  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

was  over ;  "  I  am  going  early  to-morrow  to  Dasli- 
wood.  Had  you  been  a  day  later,  I  should  not 
have  seen  you." 

"  Here  is  your  tea,  my  darling  boy,"  said  his 
joyful  mother,  as  the  quick,  active  servant  placed 
a  lamp  on  the  table,  and  set  chairs  round,  lin- 
gering in  this  arrangement,  in  order  to  see  as 
much  as  possible  of  Mr.  Fred ;  and  then  Fred 
seated  himself  near  his  mother,  and  ate  and  talked 
with  equal  rapidity.  But  who  shall  describe  the 
delight  witli  which  the  mutual  recitals  were  made 
and  received — what  a  warm  reception  was  given 
to  the  black  profile  and  the  history  of  its  produc- 
tion, and  how  Mrs.  Salisbury  laid  claim  to  it,  in 
spite  of  the  vociferous  reminders  from  her 
daughters  that  she  had  a  much  better  one  iu 
water-colours.  Fred  had  not  long  finished  his 
tea  when  he  rushed  into  the  kitchen,  with  a  long 
train  after  him,  to  pay  his  respects  to  the  servants 
he  knew;  and  then  calUng  on  his  brothers  to 
"bear  a  hand,"  insisted  upon  having  his  huge 
chest  carried  into  the  drawing-room. 

"  What  have  we  here  ?  "  said  his  father. 

"Heave  oh!"  was  the  reply,  as  the  chest  landed 
safely  on  the  floor,  and  the  owner  searched  for  his 
key. 

His  mother  came  up  to  him  and  vainly  endea- 
voured to  persuade  him  to  postpone  the  unpacking 
till  to-morrow,  assuring  him  he  was  too  tired.        | 

"  Tired  !  it  takes  more  to  tire  me,  my  blessed 
old  mother,"  giving  his  mother  a  huge  embrace 


DASinVOOD    PKIOIIY.  321 

and  noisy  kiss;  and  then  fetching  an  armchair 
for  her  near  the  scene  of  action.  Xone  of  the 
young  people  being  at  all  loath  to  see  the  inside 
of  the  chest  again,  the  rummaging  commenced  in 
earnest,  and  soon  the  floor  was  strewed  with  its 
every-day  contents,  and  the  tables  with  the  rarities 
and  toys  on  which  the  young  man  had  laid  out  all 
his  spare  money.  There  was  a  set  of  carved 
chessmen  for  his  father,  a  crape  shawl  for  his 
mother,  some  china  cups  and  fans  and  a  couple  of 
ivory  card-cases  for  his  sisters,  shells  he  had  picked 
up  himself,  and  some  Indian  treasures  which  he 
had  procured  as  they  touched  at  the  great  Oriental 
continent  on  their  way  home;  and  what  most 
warmed  his  parents'  hearts  was  the  knowledge 
that  these  gifts  were  the  product  of  self-denial 
and  constant  thoughtfulness ;  for  there  had  been 
no  overdrawing  his  account,  no  exceeding  the 
allowance  made  to  him ;  and  now  he  Avas  repaid 
by  the  smiles  and  expressions  of  gratitude,  the 
raptures  and  admiration,  as  each  new  article  was 
disphivcd. 

"  And  now,  mother,''  said  he  at  last,  "  here  is 
an  Indian  muslin  dress  and  lining  for  you." 

"Oh,  how  beautiful !"  exclaimed  the  sisters  in 
:i  breath. 

•  I'or  me,  my  dear  boy?  I  can't  wear  white 
nnislin,"  said  hismotlier,  as  she  spread  the  delicate 
fal)ric  on  her  knee.  "An  old  woman  lik(!  myself 
wearing  such  a  dress ; — really  it  is  very  beautiful ! 
You  must  make  it  over  to  one  of  the  frirls." 


322  DASIIWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  You  look  as  young  as  any  of  them/* 

"TherOj  girls,  do  you  hear  that?"  said  Mr. 
Salisbury. 

"  Wellj  do  what  you  like  with  it,  mother,"  said 
her  son.  "I  w^on't  make  any  of  the  beauties 
jealous." 

"  Edith,  mamma ;  Edith,"  said  Fanny,  eagerly : 
"  Edith  will  want  a  handsome  dress  soon." 

"  What  do  you  say.  Miss  Salisbury  ? "  said  her 
father.     "Will  it  do?" 

Edith  laughed  and  coloured,  and  her  brother, 
who  was  just  bringing  a  few  shells  to  her,  stopped 
before  her,  and  looked  very  steadily  at  her. 

"  Eh  ?"  said  he  at  last.  "  What's  in  the  wind. 
Swan's  Neck?" 

Edith  laughed  and  got  behind  her  father,  and 
Fanny,  throwing  her  arms  round  his  waist  and 
turning  her  merry  face  up  to  him,  whispered, — 

"The  Swan's  Neck  has  found  some  one  to  play 
Earl  Godwin  to  her,  Fred." 

"Well  done.  Swan's  Neck!"  exclaimed  Fred, 
in  an  ecstasy,  and  in  spite  of  Fanny's  upheld 
finger  he  rushed  after  Edith,  and  gaA'c  her  a 
vehement  kiss,  declaring  that  Earl  Godwin  was  a 
man  of  taste,  and  keeping  his  arm  tightly  round 
her  till  she  consented  to  whisper  the  name  of  her 
intended,  v/hich  she  did  not  do  till  he  had  pro- 
mised, in  a  whisper,  that  he  would  be  quiet  about 
it  for  the  rest  of  the  evening ;  and  her  eye  glanced 
shyly  in  the  dhectiou  of  Louis,  who  was  standing 
at  a  little  distance  looking  on  with  an  expression 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  323 

of  great  iuterest.  However,  this  piece  of  infor- 
mation decided  the  fate  of  a  pair  of  silver  brace- 
lets, and  Fred  begged  his  mother  forthwith  to 
bestow  the  dress  upon  his  eldest  sister,  who, 
Fanny  informed  Louis,  would  now  assuredly  be 
the  favourite  till  another  was  married ;  and  she 
presently  hinted  the  same,  with  a  saucy  shako  of 
her  curls,  to  her  dear  Fred.  He  only  stopped  her 
mouth  with  a  kiss,  and  then  brought  forward  the 
last  article  of  any  great  importance  in  their  eyes, 
which  consisted  of  the  hull  of  a  ship,  with  masts, 
pulleys,  and  blocks,  ready  to  be  put  up ;  the  latter 
having  been  cut  out  of  pieces  of  bone,  which,  he 
told  them,  he  had  saved  from  dinner. 

"  When  that's  done  that's  for  you,  little  Fan, 
fur  your  museum,  my  little  mother.  Fan.  She's 
not  grown  so  much  as  any  of  them,  mother; 
she'll  always  be  little  Fan." 

But  it  \\as  growing  very  late,  and  jNIr.  Salisbury 
was  obliged  to  break  up  the  party,  and  ring  for 
the  servants  to  prayers.  Fred  thoughtfully  seated 
himself  near  his  father,  and  drank  in  every  tone 
of  his  loved  voice.  It  seemed  such  a  dream  to  be 
there  again  ;  and  when  thanks  were  returned  for 
their  hap[)y  meeting,  there  was  a  pause,  and  all 
knew  the  father  felt  it  almost  too  much  for  utter- 
ance. They  parted  for  tlic  night,  and  the  dee].* 
l>Icssing  invoked  on  his  head  by  his  parents  told 
Fred  how  fully  they  had  been  satisfied  with  hi> 
conduct  while  abroad,  and  how  dearly  tlicy  prized 
that  constant  turning  of  his  affectionate  memor\ 

V :: 


324  DASHWOOD    PmOKY. 

to  his  home ;  and  from  how  many  evils  had  the 
remembrance  of  that  home  been  the  instrument 
of  keeping  him. 

The  many  '^  good  nights "  Avere  at  last  con- 
cluded, and  Fred  had  just  closed  his  door,  when  a 
little  tap  induced  him  to  re-open  it,  and  Fanny 
entered. 

"  I  could  not  go  to  bed  without  another  kiss, 
Fred,^'  she  said. 

"  Bless  you ;  why  you  are  quite  in  a  tremble.^' 

She  threw  her  arms  round  him,  and  he  stooped 
down  and  looked  full  into  her  now  pale  earnest 
face. 

"  Fred,  dear  Fred,'^  she  said,  "  I  am  so  afraid 
that  you  should  at  all  forget  God's  goodness.  Will 
you  try  to  think  of  it,  ray  own  clearest  brother  ? 
I  have  been  thinking  about  those  verses,  '  I  sought 
the  Lord,  and  He  heard  me,  and  delivered  me 
from  all  my  fears.  Oh,  magnify  the  Lord  with 
me,  and  let  us  exalt  his  name  together  ! '  I  don't 
think  you  have  forgotten  though,''  she  added, 
tenderly,  stroking  his  hair  from  his  forehead  with 
both  hands,  and  looking  still  more  deeply  into  his 
grave  eyes.  "  Do  you  remember  the  text  little 
Marianne  found  in  my  text-book  the  morning 
you  were  going  away,  '  The  beloved  of  the  Lord 
shall  dwell  in  safety  by  Him,  and  the  Lord  shall 
cover  him  all  the  day  long?'  You  will  not  be 
angry  with  me,  I  know,  because  we  all  want 
reminding  sometimes." 

Fred  did  not  speak,  but  pressed  two  or  thiec 


DASnWOOD    PRIORY.  325 

times  a  long  kiss  on  her  forehead,  and  then  with 
another  quiet  "  Bless  you,"  released  her. 

Louis  Mortimer  returned  to  Dashwood  the 
next  morning,  after  spending  two  very  pleasant 
days  with  his  friends.  The  next  Sunday  thanks- 
givings were  returned  at  Churcli  for   the 

safe  return  of  a  member  of  the  congregation  from 
a  long  voyage  ;  and  though  the  sailor  was  soon 
obliged  to  return  to  his  ship,  he  was  able  to  obtain 
leave  of  absence  not  long  after,  to  attend  the  nup- 
tials of  his  eldest  sister,  who,  arrayed  in  the  India 
muslin,  was  united  in  their  parish  church  to  the 
happy  Earl  Godwin  before  alluded  to. 


326  DASHVv'OOD    PPaORY. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

"  And  he  called  bis  ten  servants,  and  delivered  unto  them  ten 
pounds,  and  said  unto  them,  Occupy  till  I  come." — Luke  xix.  13. 
"  Tlie  night  cometh,  when  no  man  can  work." — John  ix.  4. 

Time  passed.  One  after  another  Louis^  college 
friends  took  their  degrees  either  -with  or  without 
honours,  and  entered  into  life  more  or  less  pre- 
pared as  their  endeavours  had  tended  towards 
their  preparation. 

The  precious  time  was  gone  never  to  be  re- 
called ;  the  large  rich  opportunities  for  improve- 
ment and  culture  of  the  mind  had  vanished  for 
ever;  and  in  after-years,  in  many  cases,  to  be 
regretted  in  vain,  for  they  could  never  be  replaced. 
It  is  in  youth  we  generally  fix  our  earthly  career 
each  07ie  for  himself.  Surely  it  is  a  momentous 
thought  that  so  much  lies  in  our  own  power ;  and 
though  we  may  feel  that  the  child  of  God  will 
find  work  in  any  and  every  station,  yet  who  shall 
hold  that  man  guiltless  who  has  not  striven  to 
raise  himself  as  far  as  the  talents  given  him 
allowed?  Hov/  many  a  one,  newly  awakened  in 
after-life  to  a  sense  of  his  duties  to  God  aud  man, 
has  mourned  in  vain  wasted  youth  and  opportu- 
nities for  enlargement  of  his  powers  of  usefulness 
never  to   return,    but    wliicls,    rightly    improved. 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  827 

would  have  opened  to  him  a  "wide  fiehl  for  p^lori- 
fying  Ilim  who  called  him  into  the  light  ot  His 
Gospel.  WTiether  we  have  one  talent  or  five,  we 
are  called  upon  to  double  them ;  and  God  is  not 
a  hard  master ;  whatever  avc  are  commanded,  we 
may  be  sure  we  have  power  to  perform.  Work, 
then,  in  the  daytime  of  youth, — work  in  His 
strength.  "  Whatsoever  thy  hand  fiudeth  to  do, 
do  it  with  all  thy  might." 

Ferrers  took  a  double  first,  and  retired,  soon 
after  taking  his  degree,  to  Bath,  where  he  was 
verv'  successful  in  obtaining  pupils.  He  did  not 
take  orders  for  some  years  after;  when  the  gra- 
dual working  of  that  small  seed — at  what  time 
planted  we  cannot  say,  but  it  would  seem 
cither  in  the  time  of  his  disgrace  at  school,  or  in 
his  subsequent  trouble — had  arrived  at  mature 
development,  and  he  felt  he  could  answer  "I 
trust  so  "  to  the  solemn  query  in  the  ordination 
service.  Shortly  after  taking  his  degree,  he 
gained  a  fellowship  attached  to  his  colh-ge,  and 
the  last  heard  of  him  was,  that  he  was  usefully 
and  actively  employed  in  an  extensive  parish, 
earnest  in  everything  that  could  by  any  means 
extend  the  knowledge  of  the  love  of  Ciirist,  de- 
voting every  energy  and  improved  talent  to  his 
Master^s  service,  and  deeming  all  but  dross,  so 
that  he  might  win  Cla-ist,  and  be  found  in  Him. 
He  was  not  spoken  of  as  a  brilliant,  fascinating, 
or  powerful  preacher;  but  ;dl  memlKM's  iiave  not 
the  same  oliico  ;  and  the  clergyman  who  visits  his 


328  DASH  WOOD    PRIORY. 

flock  with  the  love  of  Christ  iu  his  own  hearty 
bearing  quietly  and  individually  the  message  of 
salvation  to  each^  and  carefully  stemming  every 
inroad  of  the  enemy  in  the  hearts  of  his  charge, 
speahing  by  a  life  of  holiness  constantly  to  them, 
is  surely  no  less  useful  than  he  who  by  the  power 
of  his  eloquence  and  his  gift  in  exhortation  can 
fill  his  church  till  there  is  hardlj^  standing-room. 
At  any  rate,  we  generally  see  that  it  is  the  cler- 
gyman's life  at  which  his  flock  looks ; — it  is  the 
holiness  of  his  life  that  speaks  the  most  loudly 
to  those  who  "  seek  for  knowledge  at  his  lips,'' 
and  he  whose  life  and  conversation  most  nearly 
resemble  his  great  Master's  ; — he  it  is  who  will  be 
considered  the  "  messenger  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts." 
"  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them." 

Frank  took  a  first  class  in  mathematics,  and 
second  in  classics.  He  was  intended  for  the 
ministry  of  the  Church ;  but  having  a  proper 
dread  of  taking  upon  him  so  solemn  an  office 
lightly,  he  persuaded  his  father  to  change  his 
destination,  and  got  a  situation  of  some  kind  in 
the  House  of  Lords.  And  now  Avd  come  to  our 
hero,  whose  name,  in  spite  of  his  tutor's  earnest 
endeavours  and  his  own  steady  conduct,  only 
came  out  in  the  third-class  list, — whether  owing 
to  accident,  .or  nervousness,  or  to  the  desultory 
nature  of  his  own  arrangement  of  his  studies,  or 
to  want  of  sufficient  ability,  or  all  together,  we  do 
not  pretend  so  say.  Some  said  he  had  not  appli- 
cation enough,  and  that  if  Hamilton  had  not  made 


DAsnwooD  niioRv.  329 

him  work,  lie  would  uot  have  done  even  as  much 
as  was  accomplished.  Ccrtaiu  it  was  he  was  not 
idle,  and  earnestly  strove  to  do  his  duty ;  but 
perhaps  his  efforts  flagged  just  where  they  would 
have  been  of  such  signal  service  to  him  in  his 
examination ;  and  though  possessing  a  consider- 
able amount  of  scholarship,  he  was  too  deficient 
in  critical  accuracy  and  the  hundred  minutiae  so 
essential  to  a  first-class  man,  and  Avhich  were 
attained  by  many  his  inferiors  in  mind,  though 
not  in  perseverance.  Hamilton  went  up  to 
London  about  the  time  that  Louis  returned  home 
strengthened  in  mind,  and  untainted  by  the  fol- 
lies with  which  he  was  in  a  measure  surrounded. 
And  what  had  preserved  him  ?  "We  need  not  say, 
so  far  in  our  histoiy.  It  was  that  "  asbestos 
robe" — to  use  tlie  words  of  a  sweet  writer  of  our 
day — of  vital  union  with  our  living  Head, — that 
constant  and  <hdly  communion  with  Him  wlio 
walketh  through  the  fires  with  His  faithful  ser- 
vants. The  solemn  important  day  so  long  looked 
forward  to  had  passed  ;  Louis'  day-dream  Avas 
fulfilled  ;  and  it  was  with  a  full  heart  that  he 
left  the  Priory,  the  Sunday  after  his  ordination 
at  Norwich,  to  preach  his  first  sermon  in  the 
church  in  which  he  had  been  dedicated  to  God, — 
w  liich  his  infant  steps  had  first  trodden, — amidst 
the  well-known  faces  and  warm  hearts  all  willing 
to  tiiink  favourably  of  what  should  proceed  fi'om 
his  lijis.  The  church  was  very  full,  for  some 
stranirers  from   a  neiuhbouriu^  vilhi-re  belon^rintr 


330  DAsmvooD  priory, 

to  Mr.  Mortimer  -were  tliere  to  hear  tlie  young 
Squire's  first  sermon;  and  tliere  v/as  the  rector's 
own  pew  fullj — his  happy  mother,  eager  jMary, 
with  her  fluslied  face  and  sparkling  eyes  turned 
often  to  the  reading-desk  and  the  communion- 
table, where  her  brother  was  first  to  appear. 
Reginald,  now  a  cavalry  officer,  and  Neville,  from 
Cambridge,  Vvhere  he  was  studying  physic  by  his 
own  wish,  were  there,  and  his  devoted  old  grand- 
mother, who  had  undertaken  the  long  journey  to 
be  present  at  her  darling's  first  sermon.  Lady 
Vernon  sat  comfortably  cushioned  in  a  roomy 
corner  of  the  pew,  listening  to  his  gentle  voice 
with  that  calm  earnest  attention  which  seemed 
to  belong  only  to  one  near  the  end  of  life's  long 
journey.  "Was  it  true,  indeed!  Had  his  God 
been  so  gracious  to  him  that  he  should  have  the 
desire  of  his  heart !  Oh,  God  !  my  God,  how 
bountiful  thou  art !  Thou  hast  led  me  hitherto. 
Thine  is  the  glory,"  were  his  grateful  breathings, 
as  he  slowly  ascended  the  pulpit  stairs ;  but  when 
he  met  the  many  well-known  faces,  all  bearing 
the  same  earnest  and  gratified  expression,  it 
almost  overcame  him  ;  he  needed  the  few  minutes' 
communion  with  his  God.  He  chose  for  his 
praj^er  the  collect  for  the  first  Sunday  after  the 
Epiphany,  and  his  text  was  from  the  first  Epistle 
to  the  Corinthians,  third  chapter,  eleventh,  twelfth, 
and  thirteenth  verses.  The  sermon  was  very 
earnest  and  faithful,  delivered  very  quietly,  and 
rather  timidly.     He  concluded  it,  at  length,  in 


Louis  and  his  Father  leaving  Church. 


DASHwooD  puiony.  331 

the  words  of  the  apostle,  "  Finally,  brethren,  pray 
for  us."  Lady  A''ernon  folded  her  hands;  her 
eyes  were  dimmed,  as  she  breathed  an  earnest 
petition  for  him,  and  the  congregation  dispersed 
to  talk  quietly  in  their  homes  of  the  beautiful 
sermon  "  Mr.  Louis  had  made,"  aud  to  wonder 
how  "  such  a  young  man  should  have  such  a  gift." 
Louis  and  his  father  left  the  church  almost  im- 
mediately after  the  rest  of  their  party.  As  Louis 
left  the  vestry,  an  aged  man,  who  was  standing 
near,  leaning  with  both  hands  on  a  stick,  appa- 
rently waiting  for  him,  respectfully  bowed ;  and 
on  Louis  extending  his  hand,  with  his  customary 
sweetness  and  respect,  to  the  hoary  head,  he  seized 
it,  and  looking  earnestly  in  the  young  face  with 
eyes  full  of  tears,  said, — 

" '  The  Lord  bless  thee,  and  keep  thee :  the 
Lord  make  His  face  to  shine  upon  thee.'  Sir,  I 
saw  you  a  babe  at  that  font,  I've  watched  you  all 
a  growing  up,  and  I  bless  God  for  it.  A\'ill  you 
forgive  an  old  man's  liberty?" 

"  You  are  only  too  kind,  Robins,"  replied  Louis ; 
"  I  am  grateful  for  your  affection." 

"  Sir,  as  long  as  it  pleases  the  Almighty  to 
spare  me,  may  He  forbid  that  I  should  sin  in 
ceasing  to  pray  for  you,  tbat  lie  may  kce[i  you 
from  all  snares.  Oh,  sir,  keep  close  to  the  Bible, 
as  you  have  done  to-day  ;  but  tiierc  are  spirits  of 
Antichrist  abroad,  sir  :  may  the  Lord  keep  you 
from  them." 

"  Ay,   Robins,"   rejoined   ]\rr.   ^Mortimer,   "  he 


332  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

must  beware  lest  auy  one  spoil  him  through  philo- 
sophy and  vain  deceit.     God  grant  it." 

The  old  man  looked  still  intently  in  Louis'  face, 
and  added,  with  affectionate  solemnity, — 

"  Concerning  the  works  of  men,  by  the  word  of 
Thy  lips  I  have  kept  me  from  the  paths  of  the 
destroyer." 

He  released  Louis'  hand  with  another  fervent 
blessing,  and  slowly  followed  the  father  and  son 
from  the  church.  Louis  watched  his  cautious 
exit  from  the  chm'ch-door,  when  unfastening  the 
park-gate. 

"  His  grandson  is  not  with  him,  father ;  he  can 
hardly  get  on." 

He  retraced  his  steps  immediately,  and  insisted 
upon  supporting  the  old  man's  tottering  steps  to 
the  end  of  the  church-yard,  where  they  found  the 
missing  grandson,  to  whose  care  he  consigned  him, 
and  rejoined  his  father. 


DAiJinvooD  pnioRV.  333 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

"  Now  we  sec  through  a  glass  darkly." — 1  Cor.  xiii.  12. 
"  What  thou  knowest  not  now,  thou  shalt  know  hereafter," — 
John  xiii.  7. 

Some  writer  beautifully  remarks,  that  "  as  in  a 
long  journey,  each  turn  of  the  road  presents  the 
traveller  with  a  iresh  view,  so  in  the  Christian's 
life,  new  experiences  arc  ever  opening  before  him ; 
yet  he  is  not  the  less  safe.  The  same  hand  leads 
him,  the  same  wisdom  guides  him." 

Some  of  these  c.Kpcrienccs  are  very  painful,  and 
perhaps  none  more  so  than  those  which  wake  us 
from  a  dream  of  child-like  security  and  peace  to 
a  knowledge  of  differences  in  doctrine,  of  mis- 
uaderstanding,  and  bitterness  of  feeling  among 
those  who,  in  truth,  have  their  feet  equally  firm 
on  the  Rock  of  Ages,  and  yet  frown  because  each 
cannot  direct  his  brother's  eyes  to  the  exact  point 
of  the  horizon  on  which  he  is  gazing.  Alas  1 
Christian,  will  you  not  rememljcr  tliat  that  slant- 
ing gleam  of  sunlight  that  makes  tlie  ripple  glitter 
before  your  eyes,  exhibits,  in  raiuljow  tints,  a 
more  distant  object  to  your  diifercntly  situated 
fellow-crcaturc  ?  Are  avc  not  commanded  to 
"  think  soberly,  according  as  (Jod  hath  given  to 
every  man  the  measure  of  faith  'I "     "  The  same 


334  DASH  WOOD    PRIORY. 

Spirit  luinistereth  severally  to  every  man  as  He 
wW\."  Surely  we  need  constantly  to  recall  tliat 
deep  reminder_,  "  Who  is  it  that  hath  made  thee 
to  differ  from  another  ?^^ 

There  are  cei'tainly  fundamental  doctrines  on 
which  no  true  Christian  can  diifer.  The  doctrine 
of  the  Unity  in  Trinity,  and  the  Trinity  in  Unity ; 
the  full,  perfect  satisfaction  of  the  sacrifice  of  the 
blood  of  Christ,  and  the  impossibility  of  being 
saved  out  of  Him ;  the  entire  ruin  of  man  at  the 
fall,  and  the  certainty  of  a  future  state  of  happi- 
ness or  misery.  There  can  be  7io  mistake  about 
these ;  and  of  these  I  do  not  speak  now,  but  of 
those  abstruse  and  mysterious  diflficulties,  those 
di\'isions  and  subdivisions  of  dificrence,  which 
seem  to  constitute  the  whole  religion  of  some 
people,  and  with  which  they  not  unfrequently 
distress  and  perplex  the  tender  mind  of  a  child  in 
Christ,  drawing  him  away  from  his  loving  trust 
in  his  mighty  and  tender  Saviom',  from  those 
sweet  hopes  and  practical  duties  which  should 
constantly  engage  his  soul,  giving  him  instead  a 
meagre  substitute  of  logical  distinctions  and  subtle 
definitions. 

Were  it  not  that  the  Christian  knows  that  "  all 
things  shall  work  together  for  his  good,^^  he  can- 
not sometimes  understand  why  his  simple  trust  in 
the  love  of  Cluist  should  be  disturbed  by  these 
conflicting  opinions,  why  he  could  not  be  left  in 
practical  ignorance  of  the  schisms  and  difi'crences 
in  the  Church  of  Christ.     And  this   distraction 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  335 

sometimes  comes  upon  Lim  when  his  conscience 
acquits  liim  of  having  led  liimself  into  tempta- 
tion ;  and,  tossed  about  with  doubts,  he  exclaims, 
"  ^yllc^e  is  my  "Maker,  who  used  to  give  me  songs 
in  the  night?"  "Why  is  this  come  upon  me? 
my  way  seems  no  longer  enlai'ged  under  my  feet ; 
it  is  hedged  up  with  thorns.  Why  cannot  I  go 
into  the  house  of  my  God,  and  listen  to  His 
preached  word,  without  involuntarily  cavilling  at 
the  chance  expression,  without  the  sinful  eager- 
ness to  detect  the  shade  of  a  wrong  doctrine? 
Yet  we  need  not  fear, — the  true  disciple  of  Christ 
shall  not  be  left  in  darkness.  He  may  not  see  the 
slothfuluess  that  crept  upon  him ;  he  knew  not  the 
tendency  that  threatened  to  make  him  lukewarm 
in  the  service  of  God.  He  would  not  have  known, 
perhaps,  if  he  had  not  experienced  the  distress  of 
controversy  in  his  own  mind,  how  he  would  act 
towards  others ;  but  God  knew  all ;  and  now  he 
will  more  carefully  remember  how  the  Apostle 
Paul  became  all  things  to  all  men,  if  by  any 
means  he  might  save  some.  Perhaps  he  will 
never  sec  the  reason  of  his  dark  seasons,  yet  by- 
and-by  tlic  covering  shall  be  removed  that  is  cast 
over  all  people,  and  he  will  see  that  that  very  dark 
and  narrow  pathway  between  tlie  hedges  of  thorns 
was  the  only  safe  way  for  him. 

Two  quick  years  had  Louis  spent  in  his  pas- 
toral duties  at  Dashwood — years  of  quiet  hap- 
piness, unruffled,  save  by  that  shade  which  Mill 
souictimcs  steal  over  the  heart  in  times  of  pros- 


336  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

perity,  a  fear  of  coming  evil,  -wlieu  the  sudden 
death  of  Lady  Vernon^  Avho  was  paying  a  second 
visit  to  Dashwood^  cast  a  gloom  over  all.  Louis 
was  her  favourite  grandchild,  and  his  affectionate 
heart  had  always  warmly  returned  her  love.  We 
are  apt  to  think  in  cases  indifferent  to  ourselves, 
that  the  death  of  an  aged  person,  coming  in  the 
course  of  nature,  is  a  slight  trial;  but  to  those 
concerned  who  can  express  the  strange  blank,  the 
wondering  remembrance  that  the  loved  one  who 
has  filled  his  or  her  place  from  our  earliest  re- 
collections, shall  fill  it  no  more  ? 

The  shock  of  the  sudden  loss,  united  with  his 
great  sorrow  and  the  extreme  quietude  of  his  life, 
after  a  few  weeks  told  upon  Louis'  health;  and 
change  of  scene  and  more  activity  of  life  were 
prescribed  for  him.  Mrs.  Mortimer  had  been 
rather  anxious  for  some  time  previously,  that  Louis 
should  be  more  actively  engaged;  there  was  not 
enough  for  three  clergymen  in  their  quiet  v.ell- 
ordered  cure,  and  she  had  noticed  an  indolence 
of  mind  and  manner,  which  she  dreaded,  creeping 
over  Louis.  He  Avas  himself  unconscious  of  it,  but 
there  had  been  in  the  state  of  his  mind  something 
a  little  akin  to  that  spirit  which  says,  "  I  am 
rich  and  have  need  of  nothing,^'  because  nothing 
had  occurred  to  remind  him  of  his  danger. 

It  was  about  this  time  the  family  party  were 
at  breakfast  one  morning,  when  the  post-bag  was 
brought  in,  and  Mr.  Mortimer,  unlocking  it,  pro- 
ceeded to  distribute  its  contents. 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY,  337 

"  !Miss  ^Mortimer,  tlircc  for  !Miss  jMortimcr," 
he  said,  handing  her  letters  to  !Mary.  "  Keuinald 
Mortimer,  Esq.  "We  must  not  forget  to  forward 
tliat.  Here  is  one  for  mamma,  and  one  for  Doctor 
^lortimer.  There,  Neville,  the  first  letter  ad- 
dressed to  the  doctor — ti'om  Cambridge,  I  per- 
ceive." 

Neville  laughed^  and  opened  it. 

"  Four  for  Louis,  I  declare,  and  none  for  me." 

"  Nor  for  me,"  said  Freddy.  "  I  declare,  it^s 
a  great  shame  of  !Mr.  Hamilton  not  to  answer  my 
long  letter." 

"  This  is  for  you,  father,"  said  Louis,  returning 
one  of  his  ;  "  and  there,  Master  Fred  ;  Hamilton 
only  gives  me  a  scrap,  and  you  the  lion's  share." 

"  Oh  !  what  a  capital  scribe  he  is,  after  all ! " 
exclaimed  Fred.  "One  always  gets  something 
for  grumbling.  If  ever  I  get  impatient  about 
looking  for  a  thing  and  grumble,  I  am  sure  to 
find  it." 

Mr.  Mortimer  shook  his  head. 

"  That  is  a  dangerous  theory,  Fred." 
■  Well,  I  don't  think  I  am  likely  to  l)ccome  a 
misanthrope  yet,"  answered  Fred,  with  a  Ijliush. 
"  Now  for  a  dive !     AVhat  a  long  epistle  !   I  nuist 
take  some  coffee  to  sustain  me  the  while." 

"(Commence  by  all  means,"  said  Neville,  "and 
then,  j)crhaps,  we  shall  comprehend  our  own." 

Tliere  was  something  in  Louis'  correspondence 
that  seemed  to  exeitc  him  a  little,  for  he  looked 
up  once  or  twice  with  a  heightened  colour,  but 
z 


338  DASHWOOD    PRIOllY. 

refrained  from  speaking,  as  tlie  otliers  -were  en- 
gaged. At  length,  all  but  Mary  having  finished, 
he  began. 

"  I  could  not  think  what  Hamilton  meant  by, 
/  hojje  you  will  not  go  to  Trevanniou,  but  all  my 
letters  are  on  the  same  subject.  One  is  fr'om 
Trevannion  to  ask  me  to  take  liis  parish  for  six 
months  with  Nevinson,  who,  you  know,  is  his 
curate,  and  Nevinson  writes  so  anxiously  that  I 
should  come*.     Read  them,  will  you?" 

Louis  handed  the  letters  to  his  father. 

"  Trevannion  !  Where  is  he  ?  Oh,  I  remem- 
ber. Is  he  riot  a  little  Jdgh  ?  I  wonder  he  should 
think  of  you.  Hamilton  thinks  you  had  better 
not  go,  does  he?" 

"Yes,  he  croaks  sadly  about  Trevanniou's  prin- 
ciples,'^ said  Louis. 

"  But  his  judgment  is  always  so  connect,"  re- 
marked Mary,  laying  down  her  letter.  "  Don't 
you  think  so,  Louis  ? " 

"  Generally,"  replied  Louis,  smiling.  "  OvlIj  I 
do  not  know  how  Trevannion's  principles  can  aflect 
me,  when  he  is  in  Italy." 

"  Oh  !  he  is  going  away,  is  he  ?  "  said  Neville. 
"  That  alters  the  case  materially.  Is  Nevinson  a 
sound  man  ?  " 

"  How  can  you  ask  ?  "  said  Louis.  "  Besides, 
surely  I  am  as  capable  of  guiding  myself  as 
Nevinson  is  of  guiding  me.  I  see  you  have  as 
poor  an  opinion  of  my  firmness  as  Hamilton." 

"  I  was  not  thinking  of  your  danger  just  then," 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  339 

replied  Neville,  "  more  thtm  my  own  in  a  similar 
case.  I  am  always  afraid  of  going  into  tempta- 
tion ;  but,  of  course,  if  you  feel  yourself  led,  then 
you  are  safe." 

!Mrs.  Mortimer  asked  to  see  the  letters. 

"  Trevannion  is  obliged  to  leave  in  a  fortnight, 
and  has  very  little  time  to  look  out  for  any  one,^' 
said  Louis,  as  his  mother  took  one  of  the  letters. 

"  Well,  Louis,"  said  his  father ;  "  your  friends 
seem  both  very  anxious  to  have  you.  I  suppose 
your  answer  must  be  speedy." 

"  Do  you  see  any  objection,  father  ?  " 

"  Not  at  present,"  said  Mr.  Mortimer,  "  if  you 
can  live  out  of  the  town.  Mr.  Trcvaunion  talks 
of  his  home  being  at  your  service ;  we  must  make 
some  inquiries  about  its  situation,  and  so  on.  I 
can  see  no  other  objection ;  but  on  the  contrary 
it  seems  rather  desirable,  especially  as  a  little 
harder  work  will  be  of  service  to  you." 

"  -Vnd,  papa,  Louis  really  may  do  a  great  deal 
of  good  there,"  said  Freddy,  "  if  j\Ir.  Trevannion's 
so  terribly  high  church." 

"  True,"  said  Mary ;  "  he  might.  Do  not  you 
think  so,  papa  V  " 

"  I  hope  so,"  said  Mr.  Mortimer,  gravely.  "  lie 
must  not  forget  who  gives  the  increase.  An  old 
fiiend  of  mine  lives  there, — Mr.  Wells;  you  have 
heard  of  him.  I  siiall  write  a  line  by  to-day's  post, 
and  inquire  about  the  situation  of  the  llectory,  and 
you,  1  supi)Osc,  will  write  to  your  friends,  if  you 
fcM'l  you  wish  to  accept  the  proposition." 
z2 


340  DASHVv^OOD    PRIORY. 

"  I  sliould  like  to  go,  father,  as  I  must  go  from 
home.  It  would  do  me  good  to  be  with  Nevinson, 
and  then,  if  Mr.  AVells  is  near,  that  will,  I  am  sure, 
he  an  inducement.^^ 

"  By  the  bye,  is  he  in  the  church,  father  ?  " 

"  No,'^  replied  Mr.  Mortimer ;  "  but  he  will  be 
as  valuable  an  adviser  out  of  it,  Louis.  He  is  many 
years  older  than  myself,  and  I  have  often  profited 
by  his  advice  in  bygone  times,  though  it  is  many 
a  year  since  I  saw  him.^^ 

"  I  hope  he  may  be  a  friend  for  me,"  said  Louis. 

"  I  wish  we  could  have  longer  to  think  about 
it,"  said  ^Irs.  INIortimer.  "  Cannot  you  write 
to-morrow,  Louis  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  dear  mother,  he  wants  an  immediate 
answer.  He  has  so  short  a  time  to  find  a  substi- 
tute; you  will  see  he  is  going  abroad  with  his 
uncle,  who  has  been  a  father  to  him." 

"  Well,  then,  we  must  trust  it  will  be  for  the 
best,"  said  jNIrs.  ]\Iortimer  cheerfully,  as  she  rose 
from  the  table. 

The  young  people  followed  her  example,  and 
stood  round  the  fire  talking  of  the  proposed  sepa- 
ration, till  a  servant  came  to  remove  the  breakfast 
things,  when  Neville  seized  a  book  and  sat  down 
to  read,  Mary  produced  some  work,  and  Louis 
went  off  to  the  Rectory  to  consult  about  some 
parish  matter  with  Mr.  Phillips,  and  likewise  to 
unfold  his  new  plans.  He  received  the  warmest 
sympathy  from  his  old  tutor,  with  some  reflections 
on  the  benefit  his  ministry  would  be  to  Trcvan- 


•DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  341 

niou's  benighted  flock,  which  went  tlic  more  to 
Louis'  lieart,  that  encomiums  -were  rare  from 
Mr.  Phillips. 

"\\'hat  mortal  mind  in  its  own  strength  could 
escape  seathless  the  many  Mell-meant  but  injudi- 
cious commeuts  which  reached  Louis'  ears  from 
all  quarters  on  the  benefit  of  his  ministry? 
Alas !  the  warm  grateful  hearts  of  the  benefited 
of  a  beloved  pastor,  forget  too  often  his  mortality ; 
and  none  need  more  the  prayers  of  his  congrega- 
tion than  the  idolized  and  successful  preacher  of 
a  crowded  church.  It  needs  great  grace  and 
great  experience  to  watch  against  all  self-reliance, 
and  to  cast  daily  and  hourly  the  tvhole  glory  at 
the  Saviour's  feet ;  and  surely  the  young,  placed 
in  a  position  in  which  they  are  often  looked  \\\)  to 
for  advice,  by  their  superiors  in  everything  but 
that  office,  need  to  hang  momentarily  upon  Him 
who  is  able  to  make  them  to  stand. 


342  DASHWOOD    PRIORY, 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

"  For  ye  are  yet  carnal;  for  whereas  there  is  among  you 
envying,  and  strife,  and  divisions,  are  ye  not  carnal,  and  walk 
as  men?" — 1  Cor.  iii.  3. 

About  a  fortnight  after  the  arrival  of  Trevannion's 
letter^  Louis  was  on  his  way  to  his  new  duties. 
Trevannion^s  parish  was  a  thickly-populated  dis- 
trict, on  the  borders  of  a  large  town  in shire. 

The  church  was  newly  built,  and  endoAved  by 
Trevannion's  father  when  the  present  incumbent 
was  but  a  boy,  on  condition  that  the  first  presenta- 
tion should  be  reserved  for  him. 

As  Louis  drew  near  his  journey^s  end,  the  book 
that  had  occupied  him  intensely  for  an  hour  pre- 
viously was  laid  aside,  and  every  way-mark  care- 
fully scrutinized.  His  fellow  passengers  came  in 
for  a  share  of  the  scrutiny.  Two  middle-aged 
ladies  and  a  little  boy  occupied  the  opposite  side 
of  the  railway-carriage,  and  on  his  own  side  was 
a  benevolent-looking  white-haired  man,  whose 
gentlemanly  contour  and  apparent  absorption  in 
his  pamphlet  had,  at  first,  rather  more  interest  for 
our  hero  than  the  more  ordinary  trio  opposite. 
He  had    however,  made  but  a  slight  mental  spe- 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  343 

culation  on  the  probable  cliaracters  and  destinies 
of  his  companions,  when  liis  attention  was  sud- 
denly directed  to  the  ladies'  corner  by  the  mention 
of  Ncvinson's  name. 

"  Will  Mr.  Nevinson  take  all  the  duty  now?" 
asked  one  lady. 

"  I  really  don't  know.  If  he  has  strength,  I 
suppose  he  will ;  but  it  is  a  heavy  duty  for  one/' 
replied  the  other. 

"You  have  never  been  in  his  chuich?"  asked 
the  first  speaker. 

"  Dear,  no/'  replied  the  other :  "  I  would  far 
rather  go  to  a  dissenting  chapel  than  enter  one  of 
those  Puscyite  places." 

"Well,  really,"  rejoined  her  friend,  "I  see  no 
harm  in  going  to  morning  prayers  there  :  they 
cannot  alter  them,  and  they  are  beautifully  done  ; 
and  such  singing  !  I  always  went  to  afternoon 
prayers  there,  when  I  was  staying  with  the  Prices."' 

"  What  a  shame,  to  be  sure,  that  that  large 
district  should  have  been  promised  to  that  boy, 
before  any  one  could  know  what  he  would  turn 
out ! " 

"  It  is :  now,  if  Mr.  Strangcways  had  it — " 

"Have  you  heard  Mr.  Strangcways?" 

"  Often  ;  and  he  is  a  wonderful  preacher ;  and 
so  young,  too;  not  above  thirty,  1  believe." 

"Mr.  Ncvinson  is  quite  a  young  man,  if  I 
recollect  right,"  said  the  other. 

"Yes,  and  some  of  the  peo[)le  seem  to  like  him; 
at  any  rate,  I  suppose  he's  better  than  Mr.  Tre- 


344  DASHWOOD    PllIORY. 

vannion.  But  it  is  strange  liow  beguiling  the 
luauuers  of  that  party  generally  are." 

"Well,  I  remember/^  rejoined  her  friend, 
"  that  the  poor  spoke  very  well  of  Mr.  Nevinson. 
I  cannot  help  hoping  well  of  him.  I  met  him 
once  out,  and  certainly  was  charmed  with  the 
sweetness  and  piety  of  his  manners.  Can  such  a 
man  be  really  far  wrong?  His  life  is  a  living 
epistle."  ■ 

The  old  gentleman  here  lifted  his  head,  and 
spoke  earnestl}^, — 

"I  am  afraid  we  must  not  trust  it,  ma'am, 
where  it  is  connected  with  so  much  soul-destroying 
error.  Even  Satan  can  transform  himself  into  an 
angel  of  light." 

The  lady  who  favoured  Nevinson  looked  rather 
distrustfully  at  the  speaker.  She  compressed  her 
lips  for  a  minute,  and  then  turning  to  her  friend, 
Avho  appeared  to  be  on  friendly  terms  with  him, 
from  the  ready  smile  v/ith  which  she  received  his 
speech,  and  the  apparent  answer  she  was  about  to 
make,  continued,  without  giving  her  time  to 
speak, — 

"My  idea  of  Mr.  Nevinson  was  a  good  deal 
confirmed  by  a  short  conversation  I  once  over- 
heard. I  was  caught  in  a  shower  of  rain,  without 
an  umbrella,  one  day  during  my  last  visit,  and 
stood  under  an  archway  in  Porter-street,  where 
one  or  two  people  were  standing.  A  little  merry- 
looking  old  woman,  with  a  basket,  was  very  close 
to  me,  and  had  apparently  just  recognized  an  old 


DAsiiwooD  ruioiiv.  315 

friend,  with  v.hoiii  she  was  holding  an  animated 
conversation,  as  I  found,  on  the  subject  of  cluirch- 
goiug.  *  Well,^  said  her  friend,  '  I  never  seed  you 
at  church  last  Sunda}-/  '  No/  said  the  basket- 
woman  ;  '  the  thing  is,  you  see,  I  Avent  and  hecrd 
;Mr.  Nevison/  '  Law,  and  did  ^e  though  ?  But 
isn^t  that  un  a  Pusey,  Mrs.  Groves?'  'Oh,  well, 
some  folks  call  him  a  Pusey ;  but  that's  nought 
to  me.  He's  a  good  man,  and  not  a  bit  of  pride 
in  him ;  if  ^Ir.  Nevisou  is  Pusey,  all  I  can  say 
is,  I  wish  all  the  world  was  Puseys.  He's  got 
heaven  in  his  face  and  in  his  talk,  and  a'most 
wears  hisself  out  for  poor  folks.'" 

"  I  am  afraid  you  are  half  Pusey  yourself,"  said 
the  other,  laughing.  "  Do  you  know  ]\Ir.  Nevin- 
son,  'Slv.  Wells  ?'^  she  asked  of  the  old  gentleman. 
"  I  l)elieve  not." 

Louis  turned  quicldy  round,  and  met  the  old 
man's  eyes  fixed  on  him.  He  coloured,  and  looked 
again  out  of  the  window.  Mr.  Wells  replied 
that  he  did  not,  "  but  that  the  sooner  such  men 
as  he  and  Mr.  Trevannion  went  to  Komc,  tlie 
better;  their  insinuating  manners  only  making 
them  more  dangerous." 

"  Do  you  know  who  is  to  supply  Mr.  Trevan- 
nion's  place  for  the  next  six  months?"  inquired 
the  lady. 

"  A  Mr.  Mortimer,  from  Norfolk,"  replied  the 
gentleman. 

"  St.  Margaret  gets  all  the  line  names,"  said 
the  other  Indy,  laughing. 


346  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  Do  you  know  if  lie  is  a  true  man,  Mr.  Wells?" 

"I  am  afraid,  my  dear  madam,"  replied  the 
gentleman,  politely ;  "  you  can't  expect  much 
from  Mv.  Trevannion.  Mr.  Mortimer  is  a  very 
young  man;  but  I  trust  he  may  be  right  and 
true.  He  comes  from  a  good  stock,  though 
reared  in  that  hot-bed  of  Arminianism,  Oxford." 

"  It  will  be  a  blessing  to  the  parish,  if  he  prove 
efficient,"  replied  the  lady. 

The  old  gentleman  did  not  seem  inclined  to 
continue  the  conversation.  He  had  again  fastened 
his  eyes  on  his  pamphlet,  and  was  quietly  en- 
snaring the  child  to  his  side  by  some  talismanic 
signals  with  his  fingers,  and  a  paper  of  barley- 
sugar  which  appeared  very  mj'steriously  from  some 
pocket.  The  child  very  soon  changed  his  place, 
and  Louis  was  beginning  to  warm  a  little  to  the 
lover  of  children,  when  at  this  moment  the  train 
arrived  at  the  station,  and  being  near  the  door, 
Louis  jumped  out,  politely  waiting  to  assist  the 
ladies.  Mr.  Wells  came  last,  and  to  him  our 
hero  left  the  office  of  assisting  them  further ;  and 
proceeding  to  the  luggage-van,  he  at  length  dis- 
covered, among  the  trunks  and  portmanteaus 
mercilessly  flung  on  the  platform,  his  own  share 
of  its  contents.  He  had,  fm^thermore,  just  made 
the  discovery,  that  Mr.  Wells's  acquaintance  was 
a  Mrs.  Wybrow,  from  the  labelling  of  some  huge 
trunks  claimed  by  her,  when  a  gentleman  rapidly 
approached,  and  almost  before  he  could  recognize 
him,  exclaimed, — 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  347 

"  Mortimer  !  how  are  you  ?  I  was  very  nearly 
too  late." 

"  Nevinson  !  This  is  kind,  to  meet  me  here  in 
this  strange  land,"  replied  Louis,  warmly  return- 
ing his  hearty  grasp  of  the  hand. 

"  I  have  a  fly  outside ;  we  will  not  waste  any 
more  time ;  I  am  longing  to  get  you  home." 

His  luggage  was  quickly  carried  off  by  the  fly- 
man who  accompanied  Xevinson,  and  forgetting 
at  once  all  his  curiosity  about  Mr.  Wells,  Louis 
followed;  not,  however,  before  he  had  heard  Mrs. 
Wybrow  remark  to  her  friend,  "  I  declare  that's 
the  new  curate.     They  seem  great  friends." 

Louis  followed  his  friend  with  a  heightened 
colour  and  a  smile  on  his  face  down  the  staircase 
that  led  to  the  road.  At  tlie  bottom  their  way 
was  obstructed  by  people  clamorous  for  convey- 
ances ;  and  while  waiting  here  for  a  fly  to  drive 
up,  Mr.  Wells  briskly  descended  the  stairs,  and 
advanced  to  Louis. 

"  Ah  !  and  so  you  are  Mr.  Mortimer  himself?" 
he  said,  holding  out  his  hand.  "  I  hope  you  have 
left  your  father  well.  I  am  glad  to  see  you  here, 
none  the  less  that  you  have  heard  yourself  talked 
of,"  he  added,  with  a  smile.  "  Now,  tell  me  how 
you  left  your  father.  I  wanted  you  to  come  to  me. 
Ah,  I  sec,"  he  continued,  "your  friend  is  im- 
patient. I  won't  detain  you.  God  willing,  I 
shall  rail  on  you  on  Monday  ;  and  you  must  con- 
sider Ivylands  as  your  home ;  come  in  and  go  out 
when  you  liicc.     Vicarage,  eh  ?  " 


348  DASHWOOD    PllIOKY. 

Louis  supposing  the  last  query  to  refer  to  liis 
place  of  abode^  hastily  answered  in  the  affirmative, 
and  with  a  warm  grasp  of  the  hand,  the  old  man 
released  him. 

"  I  told  Tj-evannion  you  would  spend  a  few  days 
with  me/'  said  Nevinson,  when  they  were  alone  in 
the  fly ;  "  and  you  must  not  refuse,  for  we  have  a 
bed,  and  so  much  to  tell  you.  You  have  not  seen 
Ella  yet ;  and  in  fact  everything  is  new,  and  I 
know  interesting." 

Nevinson  was  so  hearty  and  happy,  that  Louis 
felt  his  fatigues  almost  over.  He  made  many 
inquiries  about  his  friend's  home,  and  one  or  two 
about  Mr.  Wells.  Nevinson  pointed  out  a  large 
mansion  in  the  distance  as  Ivylands,  and  answered 
all  his  queries  fully ;  but  there  was  a  little  con- 
straint visible  in  his  manner  of  speaking  of  Mr. 
Wells,  for  which  Louis  was  not  at  much  loss  to 
account,  after  the  conversation  he  had  overheard ; 
and  he  was  a  little  struck  with  the  gentle,  kind 
tone  in  which  Nevinson  told  him  that  Mr.  Wells 
was  a  good  man  and  very  earnest,  never  even  in- 
ferring by  any  expression  that  a  difference  of 
opinion  existed  between  them.  Louis,  however, 
noticed  the  searching  and  almost  sorrowful  ex- 
pression of  his  large  dark  eyes  as  he  concluded, 
and  immediately  changed  the  subject.  At  last 
the  fly  stopped  at  a  pretty  cottage,  scarcely  out  of 
the  town.  It  was  too  dusk  to  distinguish  details, 
but  Louis  saw  there  was  a  little  garden,  and 
walked  on  a  gravel  path  round  a  small  lawn  to 


DASIIWOOD    rUKMlY.  319 

the  house  door,  whicli  -was  wide  open,  and  Ijcyond 
on  one  side  of  the  luiU  an  inner  door  hkewise, 
whence  glowed  the  firelight  very  invitingly. 
Nevinson  rapidly  led  his  friend  througli  the  latter 
into  a  comfortable  room,  tjoniething  between  a 
liljrary  and  drawing-room,  where  a  Ijlazing  fire 
and  a  warm  welcome  awaited  him.  ^hs.  Nevinson, 
a  lady-like  young  woman,  stood  near  the  door  to 
greet  her  husband's  friend,  and  performed  her 
part  with  a  grace  and  friendliness  that  made  the 
visitor  at  once  at  home. 

"Ella  knows  you  very  well,  Mortimer,'*  said 
Nevinson;  "  she  has  been  quite  looking  forward 
to  this  meeting,  and  you  have  often  heard  of  licr." 

"  ^^'e  are  mutually  gratified,  I  am  sure,"  said 
the  lady.  ''You  must  be  cold,  Mr.  :Mortimer; 
travelling  is  always  very  cold.  I  have  ordered  a 
fire  in  your  room.  I  hope  Henry  has  persuaded 
you  to  remain  Avitii  us  till  3Ir.  Trevannion's 
departure." 

"  You  arc  very  kind,  indeed,"  replied  Louis;  "  it 
will  be  a  very  great  pleasure  to  me." 

"  After  so  long  a  separation,  you  must  l)oth  have 
90  much  to  say;  those  luimberlcss  little  things 
that  never  can  be  told  in  a  letter.  We  are  both 
very  glad  you  have  consented  to  take  Mr.  Trc- 
vannion's  duty;  it  was  so  exactly  Avhat  Ilcnrv 
rt-i>hc(i.'' 

After  a  little  more  talk,  Nevinson  hd  tlu;  way 
Lo  the  neat  little  bedroom  that  bad  been  i)rcparcd 
for  his  reception.     Here  was  an  easy  ciiair  turned 


350  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

towards  the  fire,  and  near  it  a  little  table  with, 
inkstand,  portfolio,  and  paper,  and  a  small  kettle 
of  boiling  water  was  on  the  fire.  Everything 
seemed  to  be  most  carefully  and  kindly  arranged 
for  his  comfort. 

"  Our  accommodations  are  very  small,"  said 
Nevinson,  as  he  placed  the  candle  on  the  dressing- 
table  ;  "  but  you  know,  a  little  where  love  is — " 

"  How  kindly  you  have  been  thinking  of  me  !  "^ 
said  Louis,  gratefully.  "  I  did  not  expect  such  a 
welcome  at  my  journey's  end.'' 

"What  did  you  expect,  then?"  rephed  Ne\dn- 
son,  happily.  "Do  you  see  anything  down-staii's 
of  the  old  rooms  at  college,  Mortimer  ?  " 

"  Your  favourite  colour,"  replied  Louis ;  "  that 
comfortable  red." 

"  Ella  and  I,  you  knov.',  are  obhged  to  study 
economy ;  avc  are  not  overflowing  with  riches,  and 
I  need  not  sfiy  to  you  how  much  a  clergyman  has 
to  do  with  his  superfluous  money ;  so  when  we 
furnished,  we  got  those  plain  substantial  articles- 
which  would  wear  and  look  most  comfortable  at 
the  least  cost ;  and  I  knew  of  old  how  well  my  old 
curtains  and  carpets  wore,  and  how  snug  that  old 
room  looked  to  the  last.  I  think  I  need  not  ask 
you  how  you  like  my  Ella." 

"  No,"  answered  Louis ;  "  theris  can  be  but  one 
opinion." 

"It  is  too  scon  to  judge,"  said  Nevinson.     "I 
am  too  impatient;  but  I  will  defy  your  closest) 
criticism.     'The  heart  of  her  husband  doth  safelyj 


DASnWOOD    PRIORY.  351 

Tust  in  her,  and  her  price  is  far  above  rubies/ 
But  I  Avill  leave  you  now;  dinner  "vvill  soon  be 
ready.  We  have  a  late  one  to-day  in  honour  of 
^ou.     I  have  another  treasure  to  show  yet." 

Louis  was  soon  ready;  and  when  lie  left  his 
room,  he  found  his  host  within  earshot,  for  he 
met  him  directly,  and  led  him  to  a  room  on  tlic 
apposite  side  of  the  landing.  Here  everything 
betokened  a  nursery ; — a  small  tent  bed  in  the 
corner  of  the  room,  a  cradle  in  another  corner, 
EUid  a  respectable-looking  young  woman  working 
at  a  little  frock  near  the  table,  all  scrupulously 
aeat. 

Ncvinson  led  the  way  quickly,  but  very  softly, 
to  the  bed.  On  the  outside,  covered  over  with  a 
!voollen  shawl,  his  little  rosy  face  resting  on  a 
iini[)led  hand,  his  long  dark  lash  contrasting  beau- 
tifully against  his  fair  cheek,  lay  a  cherub  baby 
Fast  asleep,  as  if  he  had  ])ecn  tired  out  with  play. 

Xcvinson  held  the  candle  above  him,  and  looked 
do«n  with  unutterable  love,  as  if  he  had  forgotten 
be  had  brought  in  an  admirer. 

"  Oil,  what  a  ti'casure  ! — what  a  lovely  child  !  " 
exclaimed  Louis.  "  You  may  be  proud  of  that 
beauty,  Xeviuson.  Do  not  you  feel  very  proud  of 
kiui  ?  " 

"  1  dare   not  feel  proud,^'  said  Ncvinson,  very 

uwcctly.     ''  He  is  a  gift   that  cometh  from  the 

Lord.     I  can  only  feel  ray  Heavenly  Father  is  too 

'  to  me.     My  own  one,"  \w.  added,  as  the  babe, 

'         .1  by  the  voices,  lifted  liis  eyelids,  and  ttn-ncd 


35,2  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

his  rounds  fall  dark  eyes  ou  the  stranger  wonder- 
ingh^     "  Take  the  candle^  nurse/' 

Nurse  relieved  her  master,  and  meeting  the 
outstretched  arms  of  his  first-born,  he  lifted  him 
from  the  bed. 

"  This  wasn't  your  sleepy  time,  my  boy.  Was 
he  tired  with  play  ?  AVhat_,  a  loving  Idss  for 
papa  ? "  he  added,  as  the  beauteous  child  threw 
his  little  fat  arms  round  his  father,  and  with  open 
lips  pressed  a  kiss  on  his  cheek. 

Louis  stood  an  admiring  spectator,  wdien  the 
child's  attention  was  attracted  by  another  sight 
behind  his  father,  and  his  arms  were  once  more 
extended  "with  an  eager  cry,  while  iiis  whole  coun- 
tenance lighted  up  with  excitement  and  anima- 
tion, as  his  mother  drew  near  him,  tlie  flush  of 
recent  sleep  adding  such  a  radiancy  of  loveliness 
as  a  painter  would  have  delighted  in.  ]\Irs.  Nevin- 
son  looked  at  Louis  for  admiration,  and  Avas  quite 
satisfied  with  the  wrapt  smile  she  saw,  and  as  if 
transported,  she  seized  the  little  naked  foot  that 
had  lost  its  shoe,  and  kissed  it  over  and  over 
again ;  then  taking  the  child  from  her  husband, 
she  laughed  with  it  from  very  happiness.  Dinner 
was  announced,  and  Avith  a  fond  kiss  the  precious 
one  was  delivered  to  his  nurse,  and  Louis  led 
Mrs.  Nevinson  to  her  little  dining-room.  The 
evening  was  spent  very  happily.  They  were  lively 
and  unreserved ;  but  that  which  delighted  Louis 
most  was  the  deep,  unatt'cctcd,  cheerful  piety  tliat 
breathed  in  all  his  friends   said   or  did,  and  the 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  353 

beautiful  spirit  of  charity  which  characterized  all 
their  mcutiou  of  those  of  whom  they  spoke,  even 
thou<];h,  in  luany  cases,  they  might  differ  widely 
in  sentiment.  It  was  natural  and  necessary  that 
Louis  should  hear  much  of  persons  on  his  arrival 
iu  a  strange  place,  where  he  was  to  be  so  much 
connected  with  the  same  ;  but  Nevinson  always 
seemed  to  know  the  good,  and  never  to  sec  the 
evil. 

As  Louis  bid  his  hosts  good  night,  after  the 
little  hallowed  worship  of  the  evening,  he  thought 
much  of  that  word  which  says,  "  Charity  thinketh 
no  e\  il,  vauutcth  not  herself,  seckcth  not  her  own, 
believeth  all  tilings,  hopeth  all  things." 

The  next  day  was  Sunday,  and  early  in  the 
morning  a  gentle  tinkling  of  the  many  bells  iu 
various  parts  of  tiie  town  awakened  our  hero. 
Though  it  was  not  daylight,  he  rose  and  dressed, 
and  remained  iu  his  room  till  he  supposed  it  might 
be  near  breakfast-time.  lie  found  his  friend 
taking  off  his  great  coat  in  the  hall,  while  through 
tlic  open  door  of  the  adjacent  sitting-room  lie 
saw  that  Mrs.  Nevinson's  breakfast  })reparations 
seemed  in  a  state  of  readiness. 

"Have  you  l)ecn  out  already?"  asked  Ijouis, 
when  tlie  first  greetings  were  over. 

"\\c  liave  early  prayers  at  seven  on  JSuudays," 
replied  Nevinson,  "  and  at  ciglit  o'clock  every 
other  day." 

"  \\'liy  did  you  not  tell  mc  so  last  night?     I 
should  have  helped  you." 
2  A 


354  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  Not  after  your  long  journey,"  said  Nevinson, 
leading  him  in  to  breakfast ;  "  you  will  soon  begin 
in  good  earnest." 

At  a  quarter  past  nine  Louis  set  out  witb  his 
host  and  hostess.  He  was  to  meet  his  rector  in 
the  vestry,  and  both  his  friends  were  bound  for 
the  Sunday  school. 

"  We  shall  meet  at  church/'  said  Louis,  as  they 
parted  near  the  church. 

"You  will  meet  me,"  said  Nevinson.  "Ella 
always  allows  nurse  to  go  in  the  morning,  and 
stays  at  home  with  baby.  We  have  three  services, 
beside  early  prayers." 

Louis  was  left  alone  at  the  door  of  the  church, 
almost  without  understanding  that  he  had  arrived 
there,  so  intently  had  he  been  conversing  with  his 
friend,  and  therefore,  being  close  to  the  building,^ 
was  not  fully  aware  of  the  extreme  beauty  of  its 
outward  proportions,  but  that  of  the  interior 
almost  startled  him. 

The  church  had  been  built  only  a  few  years,  and 
was  radiant  with  new  stonework  of  a  first-rate 
description.  No  expense  had  been  spared  to  render 
it,  as  far  as  man's  hands  could  render  it,  a  fitting 
temple  for  the  worship  of  the  triune  Jehovah.  Over 
the  inner  door  of  the  porch,  into  which  Louis  en- 
tered, in  red  and  black  letters  was  the  text,  ■"  This 
is  the  house  of  God ;  this  is  none  other  than  the 
gate  of  heaven."  And  as  he  passed  through  the 
beautifully-wrought  bronze  gates  that  formed  this 
second    portal,  an   unbroken   line   of   clustering 


DASIIWOOI)    PKIORY.  6jJ 

pillars  aud  graceful  arches  of  the  Decortited  style, 
charmed  his  eye.  The  groined  roof  and  rich 
Avindows,  with  their  flowing  tracery  aud  coloured 
glass^  the  illumined  texts  here  and  there,  where 
they  could  be  placed  without  damage  to  the 
uniformity  of  the  edifice,  all  added  in  forming 
one  whole,  that  charmed  his  senses  and  impressed 
him  with  a  sense  of  deep  solemnity. 

A  pew-opener,  wlio  was  sitting  near  the  door, 
rose  on  Louis'  entrance,  and  on  his  inquiring  for 
Trcvannion,  led  him  up  the  south  aisle  to  the 
further  end,  where,  matching  a  screen  which  con- 
cealed the  organ  in  the  north  aisle,  was  the  vestry. 
She  knocked  at  the  door,  and  on. the  answering, 
"  Come  in,"  opened  it  and  left  Louis  to  himself. 
He  now  found  himself  in  a  comfortable  little  room, 
very  like  other  vestries,  lighted  by  a  circular 
window,  on  which  was  painted  a  cross  surmounted 
by  a  crown,  and  over  the  mantel-piece  was  a  large 
framed  engraving  of  Leonardo  da  Vinci's  "Last 
Supper."  There  were  one  or  two  richly-carved 
oak  cliairs  with  crimson  seats,  and  on  one  of  these, 
near  the  fire,  with  a  table  at  one  side,  sat  Trcvan- 
nion, leaning  pen  in  hand  in  a  graceful  attitude 
at  a  manuscript, — a  l}il)lo  and  Concordance  lay 
beside.  He  raised  his  head  a.s  the  door  opened, 
and  then  advancing  a  few  steps,  he  welcomed 
Louis  with  an  extreme  courtesy  and  rerniciiient  of 
manner,  that  set  liim  at  once  perfectly  at  liis  eiuse, 
and  yet  expressed  as  little  as  was  cousistenl  with 
their  former  degree  of  friendsliip.  Louis  was 
^a2 


35G  DASHAVOOD    PRIORY. 

accommodated  with  a  chair  on  the  opposite  rside 
of  the  fire,  and  after  all  proper  inquiries  about  his 
Iiealth  and  journey,  Trevannion  easily  diverged 
into  his  satisfaction  at  seeing  Louis,  and  his  plans 
and  wishes  during  his  absence,  and  Louis  at  length 
gathered  from  his  discourse,  that  lie  was  particu- 
larly anxious  to  have  the  service  very  carefully 
done,  especially  the  singing,  and  that  he  was  ex- 
ceedingly rejoiced  to  get  a  gentleman  to  fill  his 
place. 

"  I  am  desirous  not  to  disgust  the  people,  Mr. 
Mortimer.  We  have  had  a  very  thin  congregation, 
owing,  I  imagine,  to  the  very  uncomfortable  way 
in  which  the  chm'ch  Avas  pewed.  I  have  been  at 
considerable  expense  to  remedy  this  defect,  and  as 
you  see,  have  had  open  benches  to  replace  the  old 
pews,  and  have  also  at  length  obtained,  I  believe, 
a  good  organist ;  but  not  being  a  musician,  I  have 
not  been  able  to  superintend  this  part  of  the 
service  at  all.  I  expect,^^  he  added,  with  a  smile, 
"  that  you  Avill  have  all  that  in  splendid  training 
Avlien  I  return." 

As  he  spoke  he  rose,  and  throwing  open  tlie 
door,  led  Louis  once  more  into  the  church  towards 
the  communion-table.  A  beautiful  oak  screen 
separated  the  chancel  from  the  body  of  the  church. 
Trevannion  opened  a  gate  in  one  of  the  side- 
screens,  and  led  Louis  within  this  spot,  which 
seemed  to  be  considered  so  sacred.  On  either 
side  were  stalls  for  the  choristers,  and  raised  four 
steps  was  an  altar-piece,  surrounded  with  a  carved 


DASHWOOn    PK.TOKV,  o.i/ 

oak  railiufr.  The  table  of  carved  stone  bore  two 
massive  silver  candlesticks,  cacli  uith  its  lighted 
taper ;  and  on  each  side  of  it  were  tMO  splendid 
chairs.  Beliind  the  table  rose  the  stonework,  on 
which  were  illumined  the  Ten  Commandments,  the 
Belief,  and  Lord^s  Prayer,  in  four  arches ;  and  still 
higher,  partially  shaded  by  a  crimson  curtain,  a 
jjforgeous  window,  portrapng  the  Last  Supper : 
above  were  tlie  words  "  Hoc  est  corpus  mcnm.'^ 
Louis  was  almost  struck  dumb  for  a  minute ;  he 
looked  gravely  at  the  show.  He  had  never  been 
within  a  Romish  chapel,  but  he  fancied  it  must 
look  something  hke  this. 

'•'  It  is  very  beautiful,"  he  said  at  last.  "Do 
you  have  cathedral  service  here  ?  " 

"I  wish  it  much,"  replied  Trcvannion ;  "but  nei- 
ther Nevinson  nor  I  can  intone.    You  will  be  able." 

Louis  shook  his  head, 

"  Nay,  but  T  know  you  can,  and  I  am  sure  you 
have  too  much  desire  to  do  all  honour  to  the 
worship  of  the  Almighty  not  to  attempt  it." 

Tiie  solemn  reverential  manner  in  whidi  Trc- 
vannion spoke,  made  Louis  look  at  him.  His 
large  dark  eyes  seemed  lighted  with  a  lire  of 
enthusiasm. 

"  You  need  not  attempt  just  at  present,"  he 
added,  gently.  "  \Vc  can  talk  to-uight  more  about 
these  arrangements.  1  am  sure  we  shall  all  work 
together;  the  Church  needs  iniity,  ]\lr.  ^Mortimer. 
Tliere  are  too  many  distractions  and  schisms 
alrr.'idv  within  her." 


358  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

Tiiere  was  a  little  pause ;  Louis  felt  there  was 
much  of  Avhich  he  disapproved ;  but  as  nothing 
very  objectionable  had  been  started,  he  could  not 
attack,  and  so  remained  silent, — so  grave,  and 
apparently  so  absorbed  in  the  inspection  of  the 
mosaic  pavement  on  which  he  stood,  that  he  did 
not  notice  the  keen  curious  gaze  Trevannion  fixed 
on  him,  as  if  he  wished  to  read  all  his  mind. 
He  presently  informed  Louis  that  the  window  was 
presented  by  himself,  in  memory  of  his  father, 
and  when  Louis  had  sufficiently  admired  it,  he 
kindly  asked  him  to  read  prayers  that  morning, 
and  informed  him  that  the  remainder  of  the  day 
would  be  entirely  at  his  disposal. 

"You  will  like  to  see  something  of  the  new 
place  and  its  churches,  and  after  this  day,  I  am 
afraid  you  will  have  no  time.  We  shall  be  able 
to  do  without  you  to-day." 

Louis  thanked  him,  and  began  to  say  that  he 
did  not  wish  to  take  that  day  for  a  survey  of  the 
town,  when  Trevannion,  asking  him  to  excuse  his 
abstraction,  returned  to  the  vestry  and  resumed 
liis  labour  of  correction.  Louis  had  a  short  time 
for  thought  ■while  his  friend  was  engaged;  but  his 
mind  was  sadly  startled,  shocked,  and  interested. 
He  had  imagined  before  his  arrival  how  much  he 
should  do  and  say  in  opposition  to  Trevannion's 
errors ;  but  as  yet  they  had  only  taken  him  by 
surprise,  and  he  was  dumb. 

Before  long  the  bells  began  to  ring,  and  Tre- 
vannion soon  laid  aside  his  work,  and  talked  to' 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  359 

Louis  about  the  vicarage  and  other  iucliffcrcnt 
topics,  as  if  it  had  been  any  other  day,  till  the 
sexton  came  in  to  help  liim  with  his  vestments. 
Ncvinson  came  in  at  the  same  time,  and  exactly 
as  the  clock  struck  eleven,  the  three  clergymen  in 
their  surplices  entered  the  church;  the  beadle 
and  sexton  preceded  them  with  wands,  and  open- 
ing a  gate  of  the  screen,  with  much  ceremony 
ushered  them  to  their  places  in  the  chancel,  while 
from  the  other  side  poured  in  twelve  chorister 
boys  and  five  or  six  laymen,  likewise  in  surplices. 
Louis  thought  he  must  have  mistaken  his  way, 
and  hesitating  as  the  beadle  stood  back  to  let 
him  step  into  one  of  the  stalls,  whispered  some- 
thing about  the  reading-desk.  The  man  bowed  low, 
and  still  pointed  to  the  desk  before  him.  Louis 
saw  Bible  and  Prayer-book  before  him,  and 
entered.  As  he  rose  from  his  knees,  he  glanced 
at  Trevannion  and  Nevinson,  but  their  composed 
countenances  said  all  was  right;  and  with  some 
littk;  nervous  feeling,  he  stood  up  and  looked 
through  the  carved  screen  at  the  congregation, 
and  wondered  how  they  would  hear  his  voice. 
AVhcn  the  fine  tones  of  the  organ  liad  nearly 
died  away,  the  boys  suddenly  broke  into,  "  I  will 
arise."  The  cftcct  was  solemnly  beautiful ;  Louis 
joined,  and  wlicn  it  was  concluded  wa.s  sulliciently 
composed  to  read  the  Exhortation  calmly  through, 
tliough  he  found  it  necessary  to  exert  his  voice 
far  more  than  he  had  ever  done  in  his  own  little 
vill.-ige  church. 


360  DASHWOOD    PRIOUY. 

As  the  service  proceeded,  Louis  grew  more  and 
more  at  his  ease ;  the  sweet  words  he  had  prayed 
from  his  childhood  seemed  to  re-assure  him,  and 
before  long,  he  hardly  noticed  the  strange  faint 
glare    of    the    large    candles,    burning    in    the 
coloured  daylight   on   the   table,    and   Avas  only 
impressed  solemnly  by  the  varied  rays  from  the 
gorgeous  window,  the  cxclusiveness  of  the  par- 
titioned chancel,  and  the  beautiful  singing ;  Avhilc 
he  who  had  intended  to  stand  so  prominently  in 
opposition  to  the  forms  and  ceremony  of  Trevan- 
nion's  party,  turned  to  the  east  with  clergy  and 
choristers,  almost  ere  he  had  thought  whether  it 
was  wrong  or  right ;  and  comforted  himself  that 
it  was  "  a  matter  of  no  consequence ;  it  was  cus- 
tomary in  cathedrals."    AVhat  does  the  Holy  word 
say  ?    ''  He  that  despiseth  little  things,  shall  fall 
by  little  and  little.''     Trevannion,  still  an-ayed  in 
his   sm-plice   and   holding  his  cap  in  his  hand, 
entered  the  pulpit.     The  cap  Avas  laid  down  on 
the  cushion,  and  leaning  gracefully  against  the 
pillar  that  supported  the  pulpit,  with  arms  slightly 
folded,  he  gave  forth  a  fioAving  moral  harangue 
for  tAventy  minutes,  when,  advancing  to  the  front, 
he  spread  his  arms  around  and  pronounced  the 
final  benediction  in  a  very  papal  manner.     Louis 
had  listened  very  eagerly  for  the  love  of  Christ, 
but  he  listened  in  vain  :  he  longed  to  go  up  and 
speak  for  the  Saviour's   honour,   for   his  heart 
burned   Avithin    him;    and   when    they   left   the 
church,  he  Avalked  silently  home  Avith  Nevinson,. 


DASHWOOl)    PKIOllV.  3G1 

only  replying  to  liis  remarks  by  monosyllables. 
As  soon  as  he  entered  the  house  he  rushed  up- 
stairs, and  remained  in  his  room  till  dinner.  IIt> 
was  agitated  and  distressed,  and  hardly  seemed  to 
know  ho\v  or  what  to  ask ;  but  the  silent  distress- 
ful breathing  oi"  the  Christian  is  never  unnoticed. 
Even  when  he  thinks  he  cannot  pray,  he  often 
prays  the  more  effectually. 

Ncvinson  seemed  ratlier  anxious  to  know  Louis' 
impression  of  the  Avholc,  and  after  several  leading 
remarks  and  cpiestions,  Louis  replied, — 

"  I  douH  like  everything :  the  church  is  very 
beautiful ;  but  I  wish  the  reading-desk  were  more 
among  the  congregation,  I  think  they  can  hardly 
hcar.*' 

"Oh  yes,  ])erfectly  well,^^  replied  Nevinson, 
with  a  slight  colour.  "  There  was  a  reading-desk 
on  a  line  with  the  pulpit  formerly,  but  Mr.  Tre- 
vannion  altered  the  arrangement ;  and  I  agree 
with  him  that  it  is  in  better  keeping,  though  I 
had  some  dislike  to  the  idea  at  first.'^ 

"  But  why,  Ncvinson,  why  does  Trcvannion 
have  those  candles  lighted  ?  I  could  have  thought 
myself  in  a  Romish  shrine." 

"My  dear  ^lortimcr,"  replied  Ncvinson,  "why 
should  we  reject  what  is  admiral)le  in  tlie(.'atholic, 
because  he  is  a  Catholic?  We  are  in  far  more 
danger  of  allowing  holy  places  to  be  desecrated, 
than  of  attending  too  much  to  their  lawlul  adorn- 
ment." 

Loui-s  looked  full  at   Ncvinson,   and   said,  "  T 


362  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

think  tliere  is  one  great  mistake  in  your  theory. 
You  forget  that,  now  we  are  not  under  the 
Jewish  dispensation,  there  is  now  no  Holy  of  Holies 
on  earth, — that  priests  are  no  longer  to  make 
prayers  for  the  people  in  a  covered  sanctuary, 
while  the  congregation  stand  Avithout,  and  M-ait 
the  efficacy  of  the  prayers  they  never  hear.  St. 
Paul  warns  his  converts  against  praying  in  an 
unknown  tongue :  '  Else,  when  thou  shalt  bless 
with  the  Spirit,  how  shall  he  that  occupieth  the 
room  of  the  unlearned  say  Amen  at  thy  giving 
of  thanks,  seeing  he  uuderstandeth  not  what 
thou  sayest?  For  thou  verily  givest  thanks  well, 
hut  the  other  is  not  edified.'  Now  I  cannot  see 
much  difference  between  praying  in  an  unknown 
tongue,  and  praying  where  the  people  cannot  hear 
at  all,  or  very  imperfectly.  The  Romanists,  whom 
I  do  not  with  you  call  Catholics,  bring  the  ex- 
ample of  the  Jewish  ceremonies  forward  in  defence 
of  mumbling  their  Latin  mass,  and  I  cannot  help 
thinking  there  is  something  akin  to  their  super- 
stitions in  these  things." 

'^  You  will  not  think  so  soon,  I  hope,"  said 
Nevinsou ;  ^'  it  takes  you  by  surprise  now,  and 
appears  worse  than  it  is.  However,  I  do  not 
approve  of  the  candles  at  all  myself,  so  we  are  as 
agreed  there  as  I  think  we  shall  soon  be  on  other 
points,  if,  indeed,  we  quarrel  now  about  more  than 
words." 

They  did  not  resume  the  subject,  which  Mrs. 
-Nevinsou  changed  immediately  her  husband  had 


DASHWOOD    PRIOUV.  3G3 

spoken.  Louis  inquired  about  some  of  the  churches 
in  the  neighbourhood^  and  set  out  after  dinner  to 
one  recommended ;  but  finding,  as  he  anticipated, 
that  the  service  bore  much  resemblance  to  tliat  in 
Trcvannion's  church,  he  determined  to  choose  for 
himself  in  the  evening. 

Accordingly,  after  tea,  he  asked  the  way  to  the 
church  in  which  !Mr.  Strangeways  preached ;  and, 
in  answer  to  his  host^s  rather  anxious  queries  as 
to  where  he  heard  of  liim,  he  simply  replied  he 
had  heard  him  spoken  of  in  the  train. 

"  You  will  not  admire  him  much,  I  fancy," 
said  Nevinson,  quietly,  as  he  parted  from  him  at 
the  garden-gate,  after  giving  him  the  necessary 
directions;  "but  perhaps  it  may  be  as  well  you 
should  hear  him  for  yourself." 

Louis  soon  reached  the  chapel  of  ease  to  which 
he  was  directed,  and  was  shown  into  a  pew  with 
Mrs.  Wybrow.  His  heart  had  been  aching  and 
restless  during  the  day ;  but  here  it  seemed  to 
attain  its  usual  quiet.  It  was  like  home.  Not 
an  ornament, — not  a  boss  or  camng  to  catch  the 
eye  Mas  there.  It  was  a  plain  square  church, 
built  almost  on  the  model  of  a  dissenting  chapel, 
with  huge  square  galleries  and  straigiit  gaslights, 
but  comfortable  and  warm,  and  full  to  crowding. 
There  was  j)lain,  unpretending  congregational 
singing,  in  which  all  seemed  to  join.  Louis' 
heart  and  voice  went  alike  in  the  glorious  hymn, — 

"  Jesus  shall  reign  where'er  the  suu 
Does  his  succcHsive  journeys  run." 


361<  DASHWOOD    PRIORY 

Hardly  ever  had  church  service  seemed  so  sweet 
to  him  ;  the  unity,  the  harmony,  the  warmth  of 
spirit  that  seemed  to  pervade  the  assembly  was 
most  dehghtful,  especially  when  contrasted  with 
the  cold  solemnity  and  stateliness  of  the  beautiful 
morning  exhibition ;  and  yet,  when  our  hero,  with 
his  romantic  ideas  and  refined  taste,  saw  the  plain 
unpromising-looking  young  man  who  filled  the 
reading-desk,  and  heard  his  harsh  voice  and 
slightly  common  accent,  perceptible  Avhen  he 
began  to  read,  he  could  hardly  imagine  this  could 
be  the  popular  man  who  would  have  been  the 
proper  incumbent  of  Trevannion's  church.  He 
changed  his  mind  a  little  as  the  service  proceeded ; 
there  was  so  much  feeling  in  the  manner  in  which 
the  lessons  were  read  and  the  hymn  given  out, 
that  his  surprise  was  modified  Avhen  he  saw  the 
same  individual  mount  the  pulpit  stairs ;  and 
here  all  provincial  accent,  all  inequalities  of  voice, 
all  ungainliness  of  person,  were  alike  forgotten. 
Louis'  heart  only  swelled  with  the  music  of  the 
message  which  the  gifted  preacher  delivered,  as 
though  his  soul  were  indeed  in  it,  his  pale  coun- 
tenance glowing  with  ardour,  his  tone  filling  with 
enthusiasm.  Louis  confessed  no  common  mind  was 
there.  The  text  was,  "There  is  one  God  and  one 
Mediator  between  God  and  man,  the  man  Christ 
Jesus.^'  Louis  sat  with  wrapt  gaze  fixed  on  the 
preacher.  He  had  thought  his  father  perfec- 
tion, but  eloquence  like  this  he  had  never  heard 
beforCj  and  he  rejoiced  both  for  himself  and  others 


DASIIWOOD    I'KIOUV.  365 

that  such  a  man  had  been  raised  np  to  preach 
fully  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ.  There 
were  some  allusions  to  the  dangerous  and  mehni- 
choly  doctrines  disseminated  in  the  town  ;  Ijut 
though  boldly  refuted,  there  was  no  rancour  ex- 
pressed against  persons  :  it  was  but  sorrow  of 
heart  and  pious  anger  that  men  should  dare  to 
take  anything  from  the  perfect  finished  Avork  of 
Christ.  Louis  wondered  as  the  preacher  burned 
with  holy  zeal  for  the  honour  of  his  Lord,  and  his 
heart  melted  as  the  voice  quivered  with  emotion 
in  deploring  the  fatal  errors  arouiul  them.  That 
sermon  seemed  like  a  dream  of  bliss  only  too 
short ;  he  would  have  listened  all  night ;  but  the 
concluding  hymn  was  sung,  the  blessing  given, 
and  the  congregation  poured  out  ;  and  after 
assisting  the  lady  in  whose  pew  he  sat  to  replace 
the  books,  he  left  the  pew,  only  too  glad  that 
he  was  alone,  and  might  be  silent.  lie  walked 
slowly  home,  and  found  Trevannion  sitting  with 
his  friends. 

"  Well,  have  you  made  the  most  of  your  time  ?  " 
said  Trevannion.  ""Where  have  you  been,  and 
what  have  you  seen  this  evening?" 

Louis  informed  him;  and  very  repugnant  to 
him  was  the  look  of  intense  hatred  and  scorn 
Trevannion's  face  assumed  at  the  mention  of 
IMr.  Strangeways'  name,  as  he  drawled  out 
haughtily, — ■ 

"  AVell,  and  what  (Hd  the  young  Calvinist  say  ? 
You  know  whom  you  have  to  oppose  now." 


366  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  Oppose  !  "  said  Louis.  '^  He  is  a  very  fine 
preacher." 

Trevannion  crimsoned^  and  replied, — 

"  He  hates  me,  and  you,  and  Nevinson,  with  a 
perfect  hatred, — as  intensely  as  I  despise  him.'' 

He  rose  up,  and  wishing  the  friends  good  night, 
departed,  after  expressing,  rather  abruptly,  a  hope 
that  he  should  see  Louis  to-morrow,  when  they 
would  more  definitely  settle  their  affairs. 


DASIIViOOD    PUIOllY,  3Gi 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

•  Who  art  thou  that  judgest  another  man's  servant?    To  his 
own  master  he  standeth  or  lalleth." — Rom.  xiv.  4. 

"  The  wrath  of  man  worketh  not  the  righteousness  of  God." 
— James  i.  20. 

We  do  not  mean  to  attempt  to  account  for  Tre- 
vannion's  anxiety  to  obtain  Louis*  services,  nor 
for  the  fact  that,  with  views  so  diametrically 
opposite,  the  two  clergvTnen  came  to  any  agree- 
ment. Some  hinted  that  Trcvannion  wanted  a 
musical  curate,  and  knowing  something  of  Louis' 
natural  character,  trusted  to  time  to  feffcct  Avhat 
he  required  in  one ;  and  others,  that  Louis,  dis- 
armed by  the  caution  and  finesse  of  his  old  school- 
fellow, and  haunted  by  his  dangerous  love  of 
praise,  which  Trcvannion  fostered,  forgot  to 
declare  openly,  iu  the  short  time  he  had  with  his 
rector,  his  decided  abhorrence  of  the  lengths  to 
which  Trcvannion's  superstition  carried  him.  Be 
this  how  it  may,  matters  came  to  an  amicable 
settlement ;  and  Trcvannion,  trusting  to  his  eccle- 
siastical machinery  and  Xeviiison's  influence,  left 
his  charge  to  Louis  the  Tuesday  after  his  arrival. 
In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  Mr.  Wells 
Icalled  on  Louis.     The  interview   was  short;  but 


368  DASHV.OOD    PRIORY. 

from  the  few  words  that  passed,  Louis  Avas  pre- 
pared to  revere  and  look  up  to  his  father's  friend 
as  an  experienced  Christian,  able,  under  God,  to 
guide  and  strengthen  his  hands ;  and  he  accepted 
with  sincere  pleasure  an  in%itation  from  him  to 
dinner  on  the  following  day. 

On  reaching  Ivylands  at  the  appointed  hour  on 
Wednesday,  Louis  was  shown  into  the  drawing- 
room,  where  he  was  warmly  and  courteously 
received  by  INIr.  Wells,  and  introduced  to  his 
daughter,  and  subsequently  to  three  lady  visitors, 
in  one  of  whom  he  recognised  Mrs.  Wybrow,  and 
in  another  his  friend  Salisbury's  sister  Fanny. 

Miss  Salisbury  and  our  hero  were  mutually 
pleased  at  the  unexpected  rencontre,  and  as  Louis 
had  many  questions  to  ask  about  his  old  school- 
fellow, only  stern  duty  prevented  his  stationing 
himself  by  the  youngest  lady  in  the  house.  Miss 
Wells,  however,  engrossed  his  first  civilities;  but 
these  were  soon  interrupted  by  the  announcement 
of  another  visitor,  and  Mr.  Strangeways  entered, 
and  directly  afterwards  the  party  went  in  to  dinner. 
As  Mr.  Wells  led  off  the  two  eldea"  ladies  and 
Mr.  Strangeways  was  honoured  with  the  lady  of 
the  house,  our  hero  had  the  satisfaction  of  leading 
in  Miss  Salisbury,  and  very  adroitly  managed  to 
obtain  two  or  three  pieces  of  information  about 
her  brothers,  before  they  were  well  seated  at  table. 
The  soup  was  hardly  served,  when  ISIiss  AVells 
asked  him  what  he  thought  of  the  town?  what 
he  had  seen  of  it  ?  Avhethcr  he  thought  the  air 


DASH  WOOD    PKIOHV.  oV)'.) 

relaxing?  and  so  on,  and  Louis  detailed  for  ber 
benefit  his  general  impressions  of  the  Mhole, 
especially  as  compared  with  the  country ;  and 
concluded  by  alluding  slightly,  though  feelingly, 
to  the  advantage  he  considered  he  had  de- 
rived from  Mr.  Strangeways'  sermon  on  Sunday 
evening. 

"What,  then,  you  were  one  of  Mr.  Strange- 
ways'  hearers  last  Sunday?"  said  Mr.  Wells,  who 
had  caught  a  word  or  two  of  his  remark.  "  How 
came  that?" 

There  was  a  pleased,  bright  expression  in  !Mr. 
Wells's  fiice  as  he  spoke,  and  he  looked  quite  aflee- 
tionately  at  his  young  guest,  as  lie  rcphed, — 

"  I  had  heard  of  Mr.  Strangeways,  and  easily  dis- 
covered where  T  should  find  him.  It  was  like  home 
to  hear  Christ  so  fully  preached.  I  have  wished 
to  thank  you  for  that  sermon,  sir,"  he  added, 
meeting  the  pleased  glance  of  the  clergyman 
opposite  to  him. 

Mr.  Strangeways  warmly  expressed  his  satis- 
faction that  they  should  be  of  the  same  inind ; 
and  Mr.  AVells  added, — 

1  "I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  that,  my  friend. 
I  see  your  father  has  begun  at  the  iK-giuuing; 
nothing  but  bread  will  do  lor  the  children,  they 
tannot  be  satisfied  with  a  sttonc  ;  I  hope  you  will 
no  bold;  yon  hav(>  a  resjionsiljle  situation  now  in 
:hat  benighted  parish." 

**  It  quite  rejoiced  me  to  sec  Mr.  Mortimer  at 
;hurch  on  Suiiday,"  said  ISIrs.  Wybrow.     "  Von 
2  II 


370  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

know/'  slie  added,  with  a  little  smile  at  Loiiis^ 
"  we  are  all  a  little  afraid  of  Mr.  Trevannion's 
parish." 

Louis  bowed  gravely,  with  a  slight  expression 
of  displeasure  at  the  allusion  to  Trevanniou ;  and 
the  lady  perceiving  it,  changed  the  subject,  by 
proceeding  to  inform  Miss  "Wells  of  the  amusing- 
rencontre  she  and  her  friend  had  had.  with  ^Ir. 
Mortimer,  and  their  great  delight  on  hearing 
Mr.  Strangeways,  and  the  immense  advantage  his 
ministry  was ;  and  the  conversation  turned  upon 
the  neighbouring  clergymen ;  and  from  this  time, 
Louis,  who  had  before  rejoiced  in  the  thought 
of  the  sweet  counsel  they  were  to  take  together 
that  evening,  and  the  refreshment  and  the  advan- 
■  tage  such  conversation  must  be,  heard  nothing  but 
histories  of  this  and  that  person,  interspersed 
with  such  ejaculations  as,  "rank  Puseyite!'* 
"rank  Tractarian  !"  "  rank  Arminian  !"  "  set  of 
Freewillers  \"  and  remarks  about  such  a  one 
being  "very  dubious;"  and  such  another,  not 
"  understanding  the  truth ;"  and  another,  not 
preaching  it ;  but  of  that  truth  Louis  heard 
nothing,  of  the  power  of  that  truth  he  saw 
nothing,  and  he  judged  accordingly;  hastily,  as 
man  will  judge  when  he  leans  upon  his  own 
judgment.  He  had*  yet  to  learn,  though  he 
thought  he  knew  it,  that  there  are  diversities  of 
gifts,  but  the  same  Spirit.  He  had  yet  to  learn 
the  force  of  that  inquiry,  "Who  art  thou  that 
judgest  another  man's  servant  ?"     He  had  vet  ta 


DASinVOOD    PIIIOKV.  371 

learn  that  tlic  proportion  of  faith,  the  power  ot 
speech,  the  degree  of  love,  differ  in  God's  people, 
yet  they  are  His  children.  We  know  not,  when 
we  condemn  the  evil-speaking  of  another,  how, 
perhaps,  that  offender,  deeply  humbled  at  the 
remembrance  of  the  sin  in  which  he  or  she  has 
indulged,  may  long  kneel  before  the  Almighty 
God  with  that  prayer,  "  Set  a  watch,  O  Lord, 
before  my  mouth,  keep  the  door  of  my  lips." 
Yet  Louis  afterwards  learned  one  great  lesson 
from  this, — that  the  wrath  of  mau  worketh  not  the 
righteousness  of  God.  "  It  is  good  to  be  always 
zealously  affected  in  a  good  cause,"  and  to  lift  up 
the  voice  against  the  evil ;  but  when  I\Ir.  AVells  and 
Mr.  Strangeways  indulged  in  this  religious  gossip 
(for  it  was  no  better),  they  little  knew  the  harm 
they  did  to  the  very  cause  they  sought  to  ad- 
vance ;  how  their  young  friend  silently  listened, 
grew  wearied  and  disgusted,  and  finally,  all  the  in- 
diguant  feeling  which  had  been  roused  during  the 
conversation  in  the  railway-carriage  was  predomi- 
nant, and  he  felt  inclined  to  cast  his  lot  in  Avith  tlic 
despised  and  vihficd  party.  His  lip  curled  witli 
scorn  as  he  repeated  to  himself,  "  Nevinson  shows 
his  faith  by  his  works.  His  is  the  religion  tliat 
exalteth  not  itself,  and  thinketh  no  evil."  He 
heard  much  of  "  false  charity ;"  and  the  thought 
passed  across  his  mind,  "  but  the  other  extreme  is 
no  charity  at  all ;"  and  he  rose  from  his  chair.  The 
same  eonvcrsatiou  was  resumed  on  their  return  to 
the;  drawing-room,  to  which  they  very  soon  followed 

O    R    o 


372  DASHWOOD    PRIOKY. 

the  ladies  ;  and  after  listening  silently  for  a  sliort 
time,  during  his  necessary  operation  of  drinking 
coffee,  he  mthdrew  from  the  talkers,  and  took  a 
seat  near  Fanny  Salisbury,  who  was  knitting  at 
the  table,  away  from  the  lady  with  whom  she 
came,  and  scarcely  raised  her  eyes  or  changed  her 
position. 

"  You  are  are  not  much  interested  in  the  dis- 
cussion, Miss  Fanny,"  he  said. 

"  No,  I  am  not/'  she  replied,  raising  her  eyes 
to  him.     "  Are  you  ?  " 

There  was  a  very  significant  glance  between 
them,  and  a  slight  smile  curled  the  corners  of 
Fanny's  mouth. 

"  I  do  not  call  it  a  discussion,  because  every  one 
is  of  the  same  opinion,  which  is,  that  gwqtj  one 
is  bad  but  the  good  and  true." 

She  spoke  in  a  very  low  voice,  but  so  archly 
that  Louis  smiled. 

"  And  who  are  the  good  and  true  'i "  he  said. 

"  I  need  not  tell  you,"  she  replied.  "  They 
who  know  '  the  truth  fully,'  I  suppose.  As  for 
the  others,"  she  added,  vei-y  gravely,  "  there  are 
some  who  would  quench  the  smoking  flax,  and 
tread  down  the  bruised  reed  in  contempt." 

Louis  looked  surprised,  and  spoke  with  greater 
interest. 

"^  It  will  seem  strange  to  you,  perhaps,"  he  said, 
"  but  to  say  the  truth,  I  have  had  but  little  ex- 
perience in  doctrinal  diftereuces,  knowing,  I  believe, 
that  there  are  such  things  as  Arminianism  and 


nvsHWOOD    PRIOUV.  O/O 

Calviiiisni,  and  jn  rlKij)>-  ;il)lc  to  give  a  categorical 
definition  of  each  ;  Init  I  thouglit  all  true  Chris- 
tians believed  their  Bibles ;  that  the  trnth  was  to 
know  the  love  of  Christ  and  His  perfect  and  all- 
sufficient  -svork/' 

"  You  have  been  very  happy,  then/''  said  Fanny, 
knitting  away  very  fast.  "What  a  pity  any  one 
should  know  anything  else;  and  how  strange 
that  1  should  have  heard  more  than  you;  but 
really,  if  faith  went  v^ith  man's  teaching,  I  should 
believe  nothing  now.  T  have  been  assailed  in  turn 
by  High  and  Low  Clinvch,  Dissenters,  Romanists, 
and  Unitarians." 

"  And  how  have  you  conic  out ''.  '' 

"  You  ask  that?"  said  Fanny,  lifting  her  eyes 
again  almost  reproachfully.  "  I\Ir.  Mortimer,  does 
not  God  make  u  way  to  escape — always?" 

"  Indeed  he  does,  ^liss  Fanny,"  said  Louis, 
slowly  ;  "  and  yet — how  strange  that  many  of  the 
jBinccre  should  fall  into  error." 

"Ah  !  now  you  are  going  beyond  me;  perhaps 
they  do  not  look  for  the  //v///.  There  seems  to  me 
an  imerring  signj)Ost." 
I  "  Let  me  hear  what,"  said  Louis. 
I  "The  wiioLi;  Bible,"  said  Fanny.  *'  Vou  will 
think  me  very  presumptuous,  1  am  afraid,  Mr. 
^fortimer,"  she  said,  shyly,  during  the  paus(>  that 
?nsued,  "  I  am  too  independent  for  a  young  lady, 
[  am  afraid." 

"Presumptuous,"   repeated  J^ouis.     "Oh,  no! 
i  was  onlv  thiiikiiijr  with  some  astoni^hiiuut    linw 


374  DAsinvooD  priory. 

you  have  come  in  contact  with  all  these  different 
persuasions  you  speak  of." 

"  I  am  now  visiting  a  Roman  Catholic  aunt/' 
replied  Fanny,  "  and  her  father  confessor  assails 
me  very  often ;  but  I  do  not  find  anything  there 
very  formidable,  Mr.  Mortimer.  He  trusts  to 
stupify,  not  to  convince ;  he  talks  of  essences,  and 
iddities,  and  quiddities,  and  oddities,  and  monods,  or 
nomads, — I  don't  know  what  any  of  them  mean, — 
and  tells  me  of  the  '  authority  of  a  church,'  I  only 
find  mentioned  in  Revelations,  and  there  we  know 
how ;  and  I  think  of  something  else,  or  laugh  at 
him.  There  is  no  Bible  there  at  all,  so  I  do  not 
feel  in  any  danger ;  nor  have  I  felt  in  any  danger 
from  Unitarians.  As  Dr.  Arnold  says,  it  is  like 
touching  a  corpse,  so  cold,  so  lifeless,  it  always 
makes  me  shudder.  I  had  a  Unitarian  school- 
fellow, poor  girl.  But  you  know,  Mr.  Mortimer, 
a  child  with  a  Bible  may  upset  a  Unitarian  or  a 
Romanist ;  and  of  the  two,  the  last  is  the  best." 

"  It  always  seems  to  me,"  said  Louis,  "  that 
that  dreadful  Socinian  doctrine  is  one  that  does 
not  admit  of  the  slightest  outward  fellowship. 
You  remember  what  St.  John  says,  '  If  there  come 
any  unto  us,  and  bring  not  the  doctrine  of  Christ, 
receive  him  not  into  your  house,  neither  bid  him 
God  speed.  For  he  that  biddeth  liim  God  speed, 
is  partaker  of  his  evil  deeds.' " 

'*  I  have  not  noticed  that,"  replied  Fanny.  "  It 
is  very  solemn." 

" '  Have  no  fellowship  with  the  works  of  dark- 


DASinVOOD    PRIORY.  o7o 

iicss/  is  tlie  command.  We  are  certainly  too  apt 
to  be  careless  of  God's  honour  in  matters  of  social 
intercourse." 

"  The  only  perplexing  differences  to  nie/'  said 
Fanny  seriously,  "  are  those  among  Bible  Chris- 
tians. AYhere  the  Bible  is  brought  forward,  I 
sometimes  feel  very  doubtful,  now  leaning  to  one 
and  now  to  the  other.  Do  not  you  think,  ^Mr. 
IMortimer,  that  many  take  only  the  extreme  -view 
of  either  side,  and  forget  how  they  are  joined." 

"  I  do  indeed,"  said  Louis  earnestly.  "  You 
.have  not  found  any  good  arise  from  this  doctrinal 
discussion?" 

"  Oh,  no  !  "  said  Fanny ;  "  unless  it  is  that  the 
plain  A^'ord  of  God  is  so  very  precious — so  very 
precious  afterwards." 

"  It  does  not  improve  our  feelings  towards  one 
another,  does  it  ?  "  said  Louis. 

"  Oh,  no  !  "  said  Fanny.  "  If  I  believed  all  that 
one  party  said,  I  should  never  speak  to  a  Dissenter ; 
and  if  another,  to  any  one  called  High  Church  ; 
and  yet  I  love,  I  hope,  all  that  love  Christ,  with- 
out thinking  what  they  are  called :  that  is  not  of 
much  importance." 

"  My  dear  Fanny,"  said  the  quieter  of  the  two 
ladies,  "  we  must  not  forget  our  long  drive ;  the 
fly  is  here,  and  your  aunt  Mill  wonder  where  wc 
are.  It  is  a  great  treat,"  she  added,  as  she  bid 
Mr.  and  Miss  Wells  good  night.  "  Dear  Fanny 
is  so  debarred  from  such  intercourse  at  present ; 
I  knew  I  might  bring  her." 


37G  DASHWOOI)    PRIORY. 

Fanny  bid  adieu  very  demurely ;  but  tlierc  was 
an  ominous  pursing-up  of  the  small  mouth.  She- 
gave  her  hand  to  Louis  as  she  passed,  and  he  held 
the  door  open,  taking  care  to  ask  her  address,  as 
he  assisted  her  in  putting  on  her  shawl  in  the  hall, 
and  then  returned  to  the  sitting-room,  veiy  much 
dissatisfied  that  the  same  topics  were  still  under 
review  between  Mr.  Wells  and  Mi-s.  Wybrow, 
Miss  Wells  and  Mv.  Strangeways. 

Louis  took  his  leave  a  few  minutes  after  Fanny's 
departure,  pleading  Nevinson's  early  hom-s  in  ex- 
cuse for  his.  He  almost  ran  home,  and  directly 
the  servant  had  opened  the  door  to  his  impatient 
knock,  he  rushed  past  her,  to  her  great  surprise, 
threw  his  hat  on  the  table,  and  walked  into  liis 
friend's  dining-room  in  his  great  coat. 

Here  an  unexpected  scene  awaited  him.  Among 
the  many  plans  for  the  improvement  of  the  igno- 
rant poor  of  the  populous  parish  under  his  care  he 
had  devised,  Ncvinson  and  his  wife  had  a  weekly 
class  of  such  parents  as  could  come  after  their 
children  were  safely  in  bed,  or  others  who  were 
engaged  during  the  day.  The  women  were  taught 
to  mend  and  make,  a  branch  of  useful  knowledge 
in  which  the  poor  are  lamentably  deficient ;  and 
while  Mrs.  Ncvinson  superintended  this,  her  hus- 
band read  aloud  a  chapter  in  the  Bible,  and  ex- 
plained it,  and  then  some  pleasant  little  tract, 
previously  chosen  for  the  purpose.  Nevinson 
seemed  to  have  but  one  thought,  "  How  can  I 
best  employ  my  talent  ?  "  and  every  day  had  its 


DASHNVOOI)    PUIOUV.  377 

own  prominent  work  miwkcd  out.  The  sudden 
opening;  ot"  tlie  door  caused  a  i^cneral  turning  ol" 
heads  in  that  direction. 

Louis  stood  still  a  moment. 

"  Am  I  intcn'upting  you  ?  "' 

"  No,  v,c  have  just  done,  Mr.  Mortimer/'  said 
Mrs.  Nevinson  ;  "  indeed,  we  arc  rather  late. 
Shall  we  liavc  prayers,  dear  ?  "  she  said,  turning 
to  her  husband. 

''  Yes,  it  is  quite  late."' 

He  rang  the  bell,  and  the  bcrvauts  entering,  a 
hymn  led  by  Mrs.Nevinsonwas  sung,the  simple  ser- 
vice performed,  and  the  compjuiy  kindly  dismissed. 

AVhen  they  were  gone,  Xcviiisou  turned  to 
Louis  with  an  inquiry  respecting  his  enjoyment. 
Louis  was  standing  rather  gloomily  leaning  against 
the  wall,  and  ^Irs.  Nevinson  echoed  lun-  luisband's 
question  before  he  seemed  to  hear  it. 

"  Now,  tlie  end  of  tlie  commandment  is  cha- 
rity," he  said,  abruptly.  "  1  have  not  enjoyed 
myself  at  all,  Nevinson.     1  have  been  annoyed." 

"  ^ly  dear  ^lortimer,*'  said  Nevinson. 

The  sliglitest  possil)Ie  glance  passed  between 
liim  and  Iiiswilr,  and  they  ciianged  tlie  subject 
by  making  some  little  rem:irk  on  the  jioor  mothers 
who  had  just  left. 

"  1  have  been  disappointed,  Nevinson,"  he  said, 
scarcely  heeding  the  remaik.  "  I  shall  never  cai*c 
about  Mr.  Strangeways'  preaching  again :  it  is 
faitli  without  works ;  it  is  nothing  but  railing 
against  those  wlio  diflcr  from  him.'' 


■378  DASHUOOD    PlllORY. 

''  iSTay/^  said  Nevinson,  very  kindly,  Avliile  a 
little  flush  mounted  in  his  pale  cheek,  and  he  laid 
his  hand  on  Louis'  arm ;  "  you  will  not  say  so  in 
heaven,  Mortimer.  He  is  a  good  man,  and  strives 
to  do  good.  He  gives  av.^ay  a  great  deal  to  the 
poor.  I  hear  often  of  his  charitable  deeds,  as 
well  as  of  his  powers  of  preaching.  You  know,^' 
he  added,  with  a  little  huskiness,  "we  do  not 
agree  at  all  in  doctrine ;  but  we  must  acknow- 
ledge excellence  wherever  we  find  it." 

"  'Though  I  give  all  my  goods  to  feed  the 
poor,' "  said  Louis. 

"  I  believe,  however  much  we  diflFer,  that  he 
is  truly  single-minded,  Mortimer;  that  he  only 
thinks  of  delivering  his  message,  and  would 
brave  any  obloquy  for  the  advancement  of  his 
opinions." 

"  Of  his  opinions !   Yes,"  said  Louis,  scornfully. 

"  My  dear  Mortimer,  you  are  not  like  yourself. 
Have  you  had  supper  ?  " 

"  No — yes,  thank  you.  Nevinson,  you  think 
no  evil.  Oh,  Nevinson  !  '  charity  beareth  ail 
things,  hopeth  all  things,  endureth  all  things.'  " 

Nevinson  looked  a  little  perplexed,  his  eyes 
dilated,  and  his  happy  expression  grew  more  sweet, 
as  he  replied,  gently, — 

"  Well,  dear  ISIortimer,  3^ou  must  hope  ajl 
things.  You  know  how  much  pain  that  spares  us, 
does  it  not  ?  The  Word  of  God  is  always  shield- 
ing His  children  from  little  vexations  and  heart- 
burning, when  they  walk  by  its  light."   He  paused. 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  379 

and  added,  slowly,  "  How  wonderful  it  seems  that 
men  are  so  blind  to  their  own  happiness  as  to  walk 
in  darkness/' 

Nothing  more  was  said  on  either  side.  Louis 
seated  himself  with  a  heart  full  of  enthusiasm  for 
Kcvinson.  In  a  few  minutes  he  mentioned  his 
iiiceting  with  Fanny  Salisbury,  and  from  thence 
( asily  digressed  to  old  times,  and  entertained  his 
friends  for  half  an  hour  with  old  school  recol- 
lections ;  and  when  they  parted,  his  excitement 
seemed  to  have  died  away. 


380  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

"  Jesus  said  to  Simon  Peter,  Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou 
ine  more  th;i!i  these  ?  He  saith  unto  Him,  Yea,  Lord  ;  Thou 
knowest  that  I  love  Thee.  He  saith  unto  him.  Feed  my  lamb^.'" 
— John  sxi.  15. 

'•  Precept  upon  precept,  line  upon  line ;  here  a  little  and  there 
a  little." — Is.  xxviii.  10. 

Eeiore  the  next  Sunday  arrived^  Louis  had 
gained  a  general  idea  of  hi.s  new  parish,  could 
find  his  May  about  it  pretty  well  by  himself,  and 
■was  qualified  to  take  his  own  share  in  its  duties 
Avithout  Nevinson's  assistance.  He  also  took  pos- 
session of  the  Rectory  on  the  Saturday,  and  having 
arranged  with  his  friend  to  take  the  Sunday-school 
in  the  morning,  he  set  out  from  his  house  after 
breakfast  to  commence  operations. 

The  school-house  was  a  new  and  commodious 
building,  situated  near  the  church.  Masters  and 
mistresses  had  been  carefully  provided,  and  the 
greatest  care  and  circumspection  were  exercised 
in  inducing  orderly  attendance  and  mental  im- 
provement. The  little  quiet  assembly  at  Dash- 
wood  had  not  Avell  prepared  Louis  for  the  hundred 
and  fifty  faces,  all  strange,  all  indifferent,  which 
met  his  inquiring  look  as  he  entered  the  boys* 
school-room  that  morning.    They  were  justassera- 


DASHNVOOI)    PUIORY.  381 

hied,  aiul  the  mastei'  was  walking  round  to  sec 
tliat  all  weie  in  their  pluecs,  with  clean  faces  and 
hands,  provided  with  books,  ready  for  Mr.  jNIorti- 
mcr's  first  visit.  Louis  made  his  way  among  them 
to  the  desk,  and  was  immediately  attended  upon 
l)y  the  master,  who  laid  an  open  prayer-book 
before  him. 

The  late  excellent  Mr.  Bickersteth  insists  greatly, 
in  his  advice  to  a  young  friend,  always  to  go 
"from  the  closet  to  the  pulpit."  Surely  this 
advice  will  as  well  apply  to  the  Sunday-school 
teacher  of  every  denomination.  Those  precious 
little  lambs  wait  on  him  for  their  i'ood ;  but  how- 
can  he  give  it  to  them,  who  has  not  just  received 
it  at  his  Father's  hands  ?  How  can  he  expect  a 
liarvest  who  has  not  sought  a  blessing  from  the 
(river  of  the  increase  ' 

Louis  had  been  earnest  in  meditation  and  prayer 
that  morning,  that  a  blessing  might  rest  on  his 
work,  and  that  he  might  duly  estimate  the  im- 
mense value  of  the  souls  committed  to  his  charge, 
and  his  responsibility  as  their  watchman.  It  was 
with  a  full  heart  that  he  looked  on  his  young 
charge,  and  there  was  something  in  his  silent 
gaze  that  hushed  the  talkers,  and  awed  the  giddy 
into  an  outward  attention  to  the  few  words  lie 
udd^cs^ed  to  them  before  prayers. 

"  ]\Iy  dear  boys,  1  dare  say  }oii  will  \n'  very 
attentive  to  me  lor  a  few  minutes  this  morning, 
lor  you  will  be  rather  curious  to  know  what  the 
)iew  clergyman  will  say.     Now,   1  want  just  to 


382  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

say  a  very  few  words  before  we  kneel  down  to  the 
Almighty  God  about  all  our  duties  on  this  blessed 
day.  Tell  me^  who  sets  apart  this  day  ?  "  The 
children  immediately  answered  as  with  one  voice. 

"  Now^  who  can  repeat  the  fourth  command- 
ment ?  " 

There  were  fifty  hands  held  out,  and  Louis 
signed  to  one  to  repeat  it,  and  then  added  two  or 
three  simple  questions  to  show  the  nature  of  the 
Christianas  observance  of  the  Sabbath.  He  then 
continued, — 

*'  Now,  I  want  you  all — all — the  very  little  ones 
as-  well  as  the  oldest  here, — to  try  remember  this 
all  the  day  long  :  '  Remember  the  Sabbath-day,  to 
keep  it  holy  J  They  are  very  few  words.  Now, 
all  repeat  tliem.^^ 

He  made  them  all  repeat  them  twice,  and  then 
continued — 

"  But  you  know  we  have  all  very  sinful  hearts; 
we  cannot  keep  the  Sabbath  holy  by  oui'selves. 
If  you  have  no  help,  you  will  go  away :  some  will 
quarrel  in  and  out  of  school;  some  will  play  at 
marbles  or  other  games,  and  all  will  think  idle 
thoughts  and  speak  idle  words.  "What  must  we 
do?^^ 

"  Pray  to  God,  sir,"  said  several  voices. 

"  That  is  just  what  we  must  do,"  replied  Louis, 
very  seriously.  "  We  are  about  to  kneel  down, 
and  I  am  going  to  ask  for  the  Holy  Spirit  to  teach 
us  all  to  keep  it ;  and  if  I  ask  in  my  heart,  God 
will  help  me;  but  will  he  help  those  who  whisper 


DASHWOOD    PRIOUY.  38S 

idle  words  at  his  footstool,  and  those  uho  laugh, 
and  those  who  think  ahout  idle  things,  or  look  at 
their  lessons  while  they  are  pretending  to  pray  ? 
tell  mc." 

His  eye  wandered  over  several  abashed  little 
faces,  and  many  voices  answered,  "  No,  sir." 

"  Then  we  have  also  to  remember  that  this  is  a 
very  joyful  day :  '  This  is  the  day  the  Lord  hath, 
made;  we  should  be  glad  and  rejoice  iu  it/ 

'  Angels  praise  Him,  so  will  we, 
Poor  and  sinful  though  we  be.' 

How  good  God  is  to  give  us  one  day  in  seven, — 

'  That  we  may  learn  the  way  to  heaven  ; 
Or  else  we  never  should  have  thought 
About  religion  as  we  ought.' 

Xow  we  will  begin  with  a  hymn ;  and  remember, 
God  looks  at  the  heart, — at  the  thoughts, — not  at 
the  lips." 

Louis  had  inquired  for  a  hymn-book,  and  had 
been  informed  that  they  only  sang  chants;  and 
not  knowing  their  tunes,  he  desired  the  master  to 
lead;  and  they  all  joined  in  the  beautiful  canticle, 

"  0!  come,  let  us  sing  unto  the  Lord." 
They  then  knelt  down ;  and  there  was  something 
in  tiie  little  address,  and  the  serious  joy  of  the 
new    clergyman,    that    impressed    the    boys    this 
morning,  for  they  were  outwardly  very  attentive. 

Prayers  being  over,  Louis  signified  to  the  mas- 
ter, that  he  would  look  round  tlie  school  for  a 
short  time,  to  make  himself  acfiuaintcd  with  tlic 
system,  and  with  the  capacity  of  the  scholars,  and 


384  DASH^YOOD    PRIORY. 

then  would  take  some  of  the  bigger  boys.     The 
usual    routine    was    accordingly   followed,    with 
Church   catechism,    collects,   spelling,    and  that 
admirable   arrangement   of    Bible   precepts    and 
promise,  "  Faith  and  Duty."     The  children  were 
very  quiet  and  orderly  for  so  large  a  party ;  but 
before   long,    Louis  became  sensible  of  a   great 
coldness  and  apathy  in  most  of  the  pupils  and 
teachers.    The  Church  catechism  and  then'  duties 
as  baptized  members  of  the  Church  of  England 
were  the  great  things  insisted  upon  with  the  elder 
boys,  and  accuracy  in  spelling  ^^ith  the  younger  ; 
and   no   attempt    seemed   made   to   interest   the 
younger  children  by  relating   to  them  some  of 
those  sweet  stories  of  Jesu's  love,  which  the  very 
babe  can  understand  from  the  lips  that  love  the 
task.     Louis  thought  there  might  be  some  little 
constraint   from   his    presence,    and   he   stopped 
before  a  class  of  half  a  dozen  little  ones,  all  under 
seven  years  old,  taught  by  one  of  the  older  pupils, 
and  seating  himself  on  the  form  behind  them, 
took  one  upon  each  knee.     The  childi-en  looked 
shyly  up  in  his  face,  and  then,  with  that  unerring 
instinct  of  childhood,  smiled  at  one  another,  and 
the  rest  of  the  little  class  nestled  closer  to  him. 
They  had  each  of  them  a  ])aper  with  monosyllable;* 
of  four  letters,  which  they  were  slowly  and  pain- 
fnlly  spelling  to  their  teacher.     Louis  took  one  of 
the  papers,  and  glancing  down  the  columns,  timied 
to  them  cheerfully,  and  said, 
"^  Who  can  spell  good?" 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  385 

One  child  slowly  and  carefully  performed  the 
rcquircd  task. 

"  Now  all,"  he  said  quickly.  But  the  others 
were  at  fault ;  so  tellin,;^  them  all  to  listen,  Louis 
made  the  senior  repeat  it  again^  and  then  they 
were  all  to  try  together. 

"And  now,  don't  forget  it,  while  I  tell  you 
soinctiiing  about  the  good  Saviour,  the  good 
Shepherd." 

lie  asked  them  some  little  questions  about  the 
meaning  of  "  good,''  showing  them  that  they  had 
naughty  hearts,  and  that  only  God  could  make 
them  good  ;  and  then  they  were  asked  to  spell 
the  word  again,  and  Louis  told  them  about  Jesus 
blessing  the  little  children.  He  was  distressed  to 
find  that  they  hardly  knew  that  precious  name ; 
and  before  he  went  away,  he  turned  to  the  account 
in  his  pocket  Bible,  and  putting  it  into  the  hands 
of  the  teacher,  desired  him  to  teach  them  that 
sweet  verse,  "  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come 
unto  me ;"  as  he  left  them,  he  looked  kindly  on 
the  little  ones. 

"I  hope  you  will  take  a  great  deal  of  pains  to 
learn  that  verse  for  me;  1  will  hear  it  next 
Sunday,  if  God  keeps  us  all  aliv(>.  Y(m  will  not 
forget  how  to  spell  ijood  now  ;  and  remember,  if 
we  want  to  be  good,  we  must  pray  to  the  good 
Lord  Jesus,  who  has  said,  '  Suffer  the  little 
children  to  come  unto  me.' " 

He  then  summoned  the  two  upper  chisscs  to 
the  master's  desk,  desiring  them  to  bring  their 
2  c 


386  DASHWOOD    PIUOKY, 

Eibles.  He  took  the  Epistle  and  Gospel,  and 
went  carefully  througli  both  before  church-time, 
keeping'  up  the  attention  of  his  pupils  by  judi- 
cious questions  and  happy  remarks.  He  "was,  on 
the  whole,  pleased  with  their  answers. 

One  innovation  Louis  ventured  to  c?.rry  out 
this  day,  after  some  demurs  about  the  propriety  of 
altering  anything  in  Trevaniiion's  absence,  and 
blaming  himself  much  for  not  speaking  of  it 
when  arranging  his  duties,  and  this  was,  of 
desiring  that  the  candles  should  not  be  lighted  on 
the  communion-table  until  further  orders.  It 
was  a  busy  and  happy  Sunday.  He  preached 
twice  that  day ;  and  such  was  the  effect  of  the 
new,  warm  declarations  heard  there,  that  in  a  few 
Sundays  the  congregation  would  bear  a  small 
comparison  even  with  that  of  Mr.  Strangeways. 
Ah,  there  is  nothing  that  will  supply  the  place  of 
the  pure  Gospel.  Untainted  yet  with  the  errors 
around  him,  Louis  was  gladly  heard,  and  the  poor 
and  ignorant  retired  from  church  talking  together, 
and  praising  God  for  all  they  had  heard. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  Nevinson's  ser- 
mons were  of  the  same  class  of  those  of  Trevan- 
nion ;  but  he  was  not  naturally  so  gifted  as  Louis 
as  a  preacher,  and  his  tincture  of  error  was  carried 
sometimes  through  his  discourses  enough  to  drive 
away  the  more  critical  and  spiritually  minded. 
Louis  was  run  after,  and  it  was  dangerous ;  but 
as  long  as  he  kept  humble,  fearing  lest  he  should 
be  carried  away  by  man's  praise ;  as  long  as  he 


DASIIWOOD    PUIOllV.  387 

came  from  the  closet  to  the  pulpit,  he  was  not 
puffed  up ;  hut  ouly  felt  the  more,  that  "  Paul 
may  plant,  and  Apollos  Avater,  but  God  alone  can 
give  the  increase."  Nevinson  did  not  fail  to 
inform  Trevannion  of  the  increase  of  his  congre- 
gation ;  and  Trevannion,  satisfied  for  the  present, 
and  ignorant  of  part  of  the  cause,  expressed  his 
gratification  thereat  in  very  polite  terms  to  his 
substitutes.  There  -svas  one  concession,  besides 
turning  to  the  east,  Avhich  Louis  was  prevailed 
upon  to  make  to  the  prejudices  of  his  friend, — that 
of  preacliiug  in  the  surplice.  It  was  against  his 
inclination,  and  he  saw  no  harm  in  the  thing 
itself;  but  surely  it  was  something  like  a  second 
step  in  the  wrong  direction — something  like  the 
"  appearance  of  evil." 


«)   /^   o 

/W    C    <w 


388  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

"  It  is  impossible  but  that  offences  must  come  ;  but  vvou  unto 
them  by  whom  they  came." — Luke  xvii.  1. 

We  have  already  remarked  that  Louis'  previous 
acquaintance  with  a  country  school  had  not  i)re- 
pared  him  for  the  different  aspect  of  a  large  town 
one.  This  remark  will  equally  apply  to  the  Avhole 
parish.  Louis  felt  as  if  he  had  never  known  a 
minister's  responsibility  before.  In  Dashwood, 
for  years  under  constant  and  careful  supervision, 
the  young  had  grown  up  with  him,  and  the  small 
population  and  few  temptations  had  kept  them 
comparatively  innocent.  But  here,  excepting  a 
couple  of  streets  of  respectable  inhabitants,  was  a 
square  mass  of  three  thousand  poor  ignorant 
human  beings,  many  living  in  small  courts  and 
alleys,  of  such  utter  filth  and  wretchedness,  that 
this  very  circumstance  alone  seemed  ;ui  insuper- 
able bar  to  all  hope  for  improvement.  The  aspect 
of  Avhole  courts  seemed  to  be  sullen  apathy  and 
reckless  depravity.  The  young  minister's  heart 
yearned  over  them,  and  sank  at  the  almost  over- 
whelming amount  of  his  joint  cure.  Everywhere 
distress  seemed  calling  out,  "  Come  over  and  help 
lis ;"  and  how  could  he  do  it  effectually  ?    lie  could 


UAsHwooi)  ruioHv,  389 

not  see  want  and  nakedness  and  not  relieve  it  to 
the  utmost  of  Lis  power,  but  often,  after  emptying 
liis  purse  on  some  apparently  wretehed  objects,  he 
found  all  had  been  spent  in  drink,  and  at  his  next 
visit  the  recipients  no  better  for  his  bounty.  It 
needed  all  Nevinson's  previous  experience  to 
prevent  a  lavish  expenditure  of  Louis'  means  on 
worthless  objects. 

"  How  can  I  go  and  tell  of  the  love  of  Jesus, 
and  of  his  boundless  compassion,^"  he  urged;  "of 
his  constant  readiness  to  hear  and  help,  if  I  show  an 
indifference  to  those  very  troubles  that  often  hinder 
them  from  listening?  I  often  think,  Nevinson,  of 
the  remark  of  a  poor  woman  to  a  gentleman  who 
was  urging  on  her  the  necessity  of  preparation  for 
another  world.  '  Ah,s'u' !  if  you  were  as  cold  and 
fiu/if/ry  as  I  am,  you  could  not  listen.'  What  a 
(lifi'erencc  cold  and  fatigue  makes  on  our  own 
feelings,  Nevinson ;  we  forget  far  too  often,  when 
we  are  with  others,  how  dependent  the  mind  is 
often  on  the  body." 

Louis  said  this  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  Ne- 
vinson proceeded  to  show  him  of  the  many  ways 
in  which  he  could  supply  relief  more  efKcaciously. 
He  told  him  many  little  secrets  of  his  wife's 
household  management  in  jjreparing  soups  and 
clothing  in  the  cold  weather,  of  coal  tickets  and 
clothing  clubs,  and  lending  clubs  and  associations 
for  distribution  of  meat,  and  for  supplying  work; 
and,  finally,  Louis  decided  on  giving  money  cauti- 
ously, and  whenever  it  was  practicable,  to  consult, 


390  DAsriwooD  priory. 

before  giving  relief,  with  his  judicious  friends  on 
the  best  way  of  affording  it  to  the  distress  which 
constant!}'-  presented  itself. 

Mr.  Wells  did  not  lose  sight  of  our  hero,  and 
often  especially  invited  him  to  his  house,  beside 
the  general  invitation  he  had  at  first  given ;  but 
there  was  something  there  that  Louis  never  seemed 
to  get  OA^er.  His  warmth  for  Nevinson  was  always 
in  the  ascendant,  and  Mr.  Wells's  bold  and  some-  " 
what  hot  invectives  against  "  Freewillers "  and 
"Arrainians,"  always  seemed  to  have  an  indirect 
leaning  to  his  friends,  and  kept  him  in  a  constant 
state  of  hostility  to  all  Mr.  Wells  and  his  favourite 
preacher  advanced.  He  was  always  contrasting 
the  two  with  Nevinson  in  his  mind,  always  feeling 
that  he  felt  more  spiritually  minded  wlicn  with 
liis  own  friend ;  and  the  consequence  was  at  last, 
in  his  zeal  for  Nevinson,  he  almost  insensibly 
imbibed  some  of  his  erroneous  opinions,  his  zeal 
and  veneration  for  the  apostolic  succession,  and 
his  views  of  sacramental  efficacy  greatly  increas- 
ing; and  though  the  constant  communion  in 
which  he  lived  guarded  him  from  losing  sight  of 
Christ  crucified,  it  sometimes  tinged  his  sermons 
with  a  little  obscurity,  and  confused  the  poor, 
among  whom  with  Nevinson  he  laboured  so  in- 
defatigably.  Nevinson's  constant  correspondence 
with  Trevannion  afforded  him  an  opportunity  of 
alluding  to  Louis'  strengthened  mind,  as  he  termed 
that  which  was  too  sadly  a  proof  of  his  weakness. 

His    veneration    for   ecclesiastical    forms   was 


iJA>;i\vooD  ruioiiY.  391 

gradually  iucrcasing  so  much,  that  he  was  seri- 
ously considering  the  expediency  of  listening  to 
Tre\annion's  oft-repeated  wish  of  intoning  the 
service. 

Among  other  places  which  Louis  constantly 
visited  was  an  almshouse,  where  he  met  with  some 
interesting  Christians.  When  his  new  ideas  were 
becoming  sufficiently  strengthened  to  be  at  all 
perceptible,  he,  while  paying  a  visit  to  one  of  the 
old  women,  had  been  in  a  confused  manner  insist- 
ing on  the  efficacy  of  baptism,  when  the  aged 
saint,  respectfully  laying  lier  withered  hand  ou 
his  arm,  said, — 

"  Sir,  days  should  speak.  ^luy  I  make  so  bold 
as  to  speak.  I  am  an  old  woman,  near  heaven,  I 
hope,  not  so  learned  as  you,  sir;  but  Balaam's  ass 
when  the  Lord  chose,  once  reproved  the  prophet." 

"^  Don't  be  afraid,  Smith,"  he  said,  smiling. 
*'  "What  reproof  have  you  to  administer  now  ?  " 

"  No,  dear  sir,"  she  replied,  while  a  tear  sprang 
to  her  eye,  "  I  know  God's  grace  keeps  you  too 
liumble  to  dcsi)ise  the  words  even  of  the  ])our  and 
ignorant.  Sir,  when  you  come  to  warm  the  heai't 
of  the  redeemed  sinner,  and  when  you  want  to 
lead  the  unthinking  sinner,  tell  them  all  of  Christ's 
love,  as  you  used.  Don't  tell  them  of  the  Church 
of  I]nglaiid,  and  how  they  may  win  heaven  by 
keeping  the  Commaiulments,  as  some  do,  sir;  not 
you  yet,  sir.  Tell  them,  as  you  used  to  tell  them, 
that  they  arc  lost,  helpless  sinners,  and  can  do 
iiothin-'  to  save  themselves.     Tlicy  won't  feel  the 


393  DASHWOOD    PRIOllY. 

blessing  of  baptism  till  they  are  made  new  crea- 
tures. Oh  !  my  clear  gentleman,  my  heart  has 
been  praying  for  yon  night  and  morning  since 
you  came  among  us  like  an  angel  sent  from  God. 
Our  hearts  rejoiced  when  we  first  heard  you  in 
the  church.  I  mind  the  text :  it  was,  '  He  said 
unto  me,  It  is  douc.^  Oh  !  sir.  we  love  you  and 
dear  Mr.  Nevinson  dearly.  Dear  Mr.  Nevinson, 
his  sweet  face  does  one  good,  and  his  kind  voice. 
I  acft  as  glad  to  see  him  as  if  he  put  a  pound 
in  my  hand.  Oh  !  sir,  Mr.  Trevannion  ^s  very 
far  gone.  God  keep  you  and  Mr.  Nevinson  from 
that." 

Louis  did  not  turn  proudly  away,  as  Trevannion 
would  have  done,  at  the  idea  of  an  old  woman 
presuming  to  speak  in  such  a  manner  to  him,  an 
ordained  minister  of  "  the  Church,"  nor  quietly, 
with  a  grave,  reproving  air,  as  Nevinson  perhaps 
might  have  done;  but  something  seemed  to  say 
she  Avas  right ;  something  within  him  yearned  for 
the  old  bright  feeling  before  he  meddled  with  con- 
troversy; and  sweetly  thanking  the  old  woman 
for  her  anxiety,  with  a  little  rebuke  at  her  men- 
tion of  Trevannion  to  him,  he  read  her  a  chapter, 
and  heard  her  talk  of  her  favourite  texts  and 
hymns,  and  after  praying  with  her,  took  his 
leave. 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  393 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

"  Blessed  is  the  man  whose  strength  is  in  Thee,  in  whose 
heart  are  Thy  ways ;  who  passing  through  the  valley  of  Baca, 
mnketh  it  a  well,  the  rain  also  filleth  the  pools.  O  Lord  of 
Hosts,  blessed  is  the  man  that  trusteth  in  Thee  ! " — Ps.  Ixxxiv. 

"  Also,  I  heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  saying.  Whom  shall  I 
Bend  ?  and  who  will  go  for  us  ?  Then  said  I,  Here  am  T  ;  send 
me." — Is.  vi,  8. 

Summer  had  come.  Louis'  health  was  now  quite 
re-established,  aud  the  time  of  his  engagement 
had  already  expired ;  but  he  waited  from  week  to 
ueck  for  Trcvannion's  retui'u.  It  was  now  daily 
expected,  and  Louis  walked  occasionally  to  the 
railway-station  from  the  almshouses  which  were 
ill  its  vicinity,  at  the  hour  the  only  train  arrived 
by  which  he  could  come.  The  parishioners,  rich 
and  poor,  had  become  greatly  attached  to  him, 
and  were  truly  sorry  at  the  ])rospcct  of  losing 
him,  the  school  children  especially  looking  U])ou 
their  gentle  pastor  as  their  friend, — for  he  had 
mixed  so  much  among  them,  and  had  so  earnestly 
sought  their  welfare.  It  had  been  his  custom  to 
have  them,  both  boys  and  girls,  Ijy  a  class  at  a 
time,  to  spend  the  evening  once  u  week  with  him, 
when  his  housekeeper  provided  a  nice  tea,  and 
presided  at  the  entertainment,  assisting  as  well  in 


159  i  J)  ASH  WOOD  miORY. 

the  kinocent  games  that  followed.  Louis  alwaj's 
drew  them  round  the  fire  or  table  before  tliey 
parted^  and  told  them  a  Bible  story ;  and  many 
were  the  precious  texts  and  sweet  hymns  Avitli 
v/hich  lie  stored  tlieir  minds  from  time  to  time; 
visiting  their  homes — as  he  did  constantly, — he 
learned  much  respecting  their  habits  and  charac- 
ters, their  opportunities  of  doing  right  and  temp- 
tation to  do  wrong,  that  he  was  enabled  to  improve 
to  their  advantage,  seeking  to  impress  upon  each 
one  his  individual  responsibility  in  using  the 
talent  committed  to  his  or  her  charge.  Knowing 
how  short  his  time  was  among  them,  he  was  most 
anxious  to  improve  his  own  aright.  There  was, 
however,  something  in  his  tone  and  manner  more 
careful  and  anxious  than  when  he  first  came  to 

E ;   he   did   not  know  that   the   increasing 

influence  of  the  doctrines  to  which  he  insensibly 
leaned  Avas  doing  its  sure  work  in  robbing  him 
temporarily  of  his  confidence  and  joy  ;  but  as  yet 
they  were  not  sufficiently  his  oa\ii  to  creat3  any 
apprehension  in  liis  congregation  as  to  his  sound- 
ness. It  is  written  in  the  AVord  of  God,  "  God  is 
faithful,  who  will  not  suffer  you  to  be  tempted 
above  that  yc  are  able,  but  will  Avith  the  tempta- 
tion make  a  way  to  escape,  that  ye  may  be  able  to 
bear  it.'^  And  again,  "  They  that  wait  on  the 
Lord  shall  renew  their  strength."  The  time  was 
come  that  the  band  of  error  was  to  be  broken 
from  him,  and  the  film  to  be  removed  from  his 
eyes,  that  he  might  see  on  what  a  precipice  he 


DASinVOOD    PRIOUY.  395 

had  been  st.iudinjr,  and  liow  sureh'  Lis  feet  had 
been  saved  from  falling. 

One  Saturday  afternoon  Louis  was  expecting  a 
larger  party  than  usual  of  the  school  children  to 
tea,  as  a  sort  of  farewell  visit,  and  Islr.  and  ^Mrs. 
Ncvinson  had  promised  to  come  and  help  do 
the  honours.  Louis  strolled  on  the  railway  plat- 
form for  the  second  or  third  time.  The  train  he 
came  to  meet  arrived  almost  immediately,  but 
tlicrcwas  no  Trevannion;  and,  after  looking' about 
a  few  minutes,  he  was  going  to  retire,  wlien  his 
attention  was  arrested  by  a  figure  very  familiar  to 
him.  The  white  neckcloth  proclaimed  his  clerical 
capacity,  and  a  mourning  band,  covering  tlie  hat 
to  within  half  an  inch  of  the  top,  told  a  tale  of 
bereavement.  Tlic  stranger  was  looking  after 
some  luggage,  and  turning  his  head  in  Louis' 
direction,  revealed  a  pleasant,  gentlemanl}'^  face, 
perfectly  well  known,  and  yet  Louis  could  not  for 
an  instant  recall  it.  There  Avas  an  expression  of 
placid  resignation  that  seemed  to  speak  a  volume 
of  a  chastened  sjiirit  and  of  sanctified  affliction. 
Presently  he  tiu-ned  round  again  to  speak  to  one 
of  the  porters,  and  this  time  Louis'  mystification 
vanished. 

"  It  must  be  ^Meredith,"  he  said,  walking 
quickly  u[)  to  him.  "  .Meredith  !  this  is  an 
luiexpectcd  pleasure." 

"It  is,"  replied  his  old  friend,  heartily  shaking 
liis  hand  ;  "  I  did  not  expect  to  meet  you  so  soon, 
though  1  was  coming  to  see  you.     T  am   ])assing 


396  DAsinvooD  pkiory, 

through,  and  had  previously  arranged  to  spend  the 
night  with  you,  if  you  could  accommodate  me/' 

"  That  I  can  most  convenieuth^,  as  I  have  a 
large  house  to  myself.  Why,  what  a  long  time  it 
is  since  we  heard  of  you !  It  must  be  nearly  a 
twelvemonth.  I  think  you  are  a  worse  scribe 
than  we  are.  I  shall  be  so  glad  to  hear  about  you. 
I  expect  your  story  Avill  be  a  parallel  to  my  friend 
Nevinson's  happiness.  Here  is  a  coach  already, 
and  your  luggage  in/' 

They  entered,  and,  as  Louis  seated  himself 
opposite  his  friend,  he  continued  : 

"  How  came  you  in  these  parts  ?  Where  arc 
you  going  ?'^ 

"  That's  a  long  story,"  he  said,  smiling  such  a 
sweet  sorrowful  smile  that  Louis  looked  wonder- 
ingly. 

"  I  am  going  to  London,  and  thence  to 
Afiica." 

"  You  to  Africa,  Meredith !  You,  leave  your 
happy  home  !  Why,  Avliat  does  ^L'S.  ^leredith 
say  to  that,  does  she  go  with  you?  " 

Louis  repented  the  abrupt  question,  and  won- 
dered at  his  want  of  thouglit,  as  his  friend's  face 
turned  ashy  pale,  and  an  expression  of  great  pain 
passed  over  it.  He  replied,  however,  with  toler- 
able calmness, — 

"  Her  memory  does.  Did  you  not  get  my 
letter  ?  "  ' 

"  Indeed,  I  did  not !"  exclaimed  Louis,  seizing 
his  friend's  hand.     "  My  dear  ^Meredith,  my  dour 


DASIIWOOD    PlllOKV.  397 

Meredith  !  how  indiiicrciit  you  must  have  thought 
me." 

"  I  did  not  write  it  myself/'  answered  Meredith, 
in  a  low  voice ;  "  perhaps  there  was  some  mistake 
about  the  address.     I  don't  know  how  it  was/' 

He  turned  away  his  head,  and  leaned  out  of 
the  window  a  minute  or  two,  as  if  watching  the 
motion  of  the  wheels,  while  Louis  sat  looking  at 
him  in  sympathizing  silence.  At  length  he  drew 
in  his  head,  and,  pointing  to  the  new  church, 
asked  if  that  were  St.  Margaret's  ;  and,  on  Louis's 
allirmatory  reply,  admired  it  mucli. 

"  Have  you  much  duty?" 

"  Yes ;  prayers  twice  evciy  day,  and  three  ser- 
vices on  Sunday,  besides  two  weekly  and  one 
Sunday  service  at  the  almshouse  chapel." 

"  A  great  deal  of  work,"  said  :Mcrcditli.  "  I 
fancy  we  couutiy  jiarsons  know  little  of  work. 
Have  you  many  i)oorV" 

Louis  was  l^-giuning  to  give  some  information 
on  the  state  of  the  poor,  when  the  fly  stopped  at 
the  vicarage-house  just  as  the  party  of  children 
entered.  As  the  gentlemen  dismounted,  Louis 
mentioned  his  juvenile  gathering,  asking  if 
^leredith  would  object  to  it. 

"  It  will  1)0  over  at  eight,  and  we  can  join  them 
or  not,  as  you  like,  after  you  have  dined.  I 
always  dine  early,  as  1  find  it  more  convenient ; 
but  my  housekeeper  will  soon  get  sometiiiiig  for 
you,  if  you  will  excuse  the  exli  iniiorancuiis 
nature  of  tlie  entertainment." 


398  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

"  I  thank  you,  I  have  abeady  dined^  and  shall 
enjoy  your  little  party  as  much  as  you  will." 

The  housekeeper  received  prompt  orders  to 
make  everything  ready  for  the  unexpected  visitor, 
and  before  long  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nevinson  arrived, 
and  they  all  -uent  in  to  the  children.  There  ^Yas 
as  little  constraint  as  possible  in  the  presence  of 
the  stranger,  for  he  was  soon  one  among  them, 
and  though  not  quite  so  active  and  lively 
as  the  others,  performed  his  share  in  the  enter- 
tainments. When  the  children  had  had  tea, 
Louis  took  his  friends  into  another  room,  where 
the  same  repast  was  provided  for  them,  leaving 
the  children  to  two  servants'  care  till  they  Avere 
ready  to  return.  At  half-past  seven  he  assem- 
bled them,  reminded  them  of  the  approacliing 
Sabbath,  and  when  they  had  sung  the  Saturday 
night's  hymn,  he  sent  them  home,  giving  them 
a  text  to  remember  for  the  next  day.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nevinson  took  their  leave  shortly  after,  but 
not  before  the  former  had  obtained  the  promise 
of  a  sermon  from  Meredith  for  the  next  morning. 
Meredith  readily  complied,  though  Louis  urged 
his  fatigue. 

Meredith  seemed  much  pleased  with  Louis*' 
friend  as  well  as  with  his  school  filte ;  he  did 
not  again  allude  to  his  recent  loss,  though  in 
their  quiet  conversation  he  gave  Louis  a  detail 
of  Ills  plans  of  operations  as  missionary  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society, 
and  there  was  an  eagerness  and  anxiety  for  tlie 


DASHWOOD    riUOIlV.  o'J'J 

prosperity  of  the  great  cause  about  lain,  'vvliich 
Avas  most  rcfresliing  to  our  licro — like  a  strain  of 
old  familiar  music  long  since  forgotten,  for  his 
own  interest  in  the  ^Missionary  cause  had  been 

considerably  deadened  while  at  E ;   neither 

Trevanniou  nor  Nevinson  patronizing  the  Church 
^Missionary  Society,  and  Mr.  Wells  seemingly  in- 
dillcrent  about  any  missions  at  all. 

.Meredith's  whole  spirit  seemed  to  say  with  the 
willing  prophets  of  old,  "  Here  am  1,  send  nie.'"' 
Oh,  how  one  zealous  soul  stirs  u})  others,  and 
how  tlie  lukewarm  deadens  tliosc  in  his  sphere 
of  action.  "  We  are  not  our  own,  we  are  bought 
with  a  price."  Time,  talents,  words,  thoughcs, 
actions,  and  influence  are  all  His. 

The  old  schoolfellows  retired  early  that  night, 
but  not  before  Meredith  had  asked  many  particu- 
lars about  his  dear  friends  at  Dashwood. 

Louis  knelt  long  in  heartfelt  prayer  for  his 
afflicted  friend;  but  he  knew  not  how  much 
longer  Meredith  walked  up  and  down  his  room, 
and  bent  prostrate  beftn'c  the  Throne  of  Grace 
for  strength  to  bear  cheerfully  his  great  loss; 
for  balm  to  soothe  the  wound  tiiat  had  that  day 
been  roughly  opened ;  and  not  till  he  couhl  say, 
"  Tiiy  will  be  done,"  and  could  look  up  smiling, 
amid  tears,  in  faith,  to  the  briglit  mansions  pre- 
pared for  the  beloved  of  God,  did  he  lie  down; 
when  he  soon  fell  into  a  sweet  slumber,  in  posses- 
sion of  that  peace  which  the  world  can  ncitlicr 
give  nor  take  away  ! 


400  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

The  Sundfiy  school  the  next  morning  left  Louis 
but  little  time  with  jN'Iercdith  before  the  morning 
service  at  church.  ]\Icredith  called  for  him  at  the 
school,  and  they  walked  together  to  church.  Me- 
redith was  very  silent,  and.  as  they  entered  the 
beautiful  building  he  looked  very  carefully  around, 
Louis  led  him  up  the  centre  aisle  to  the  chancel, 
and  had  he  been  on  the  watch  would  have  noticed 
many  a  change  of  expression  pass  over  his  face ; 
admiration,  enthusiasm,  and  then  a  bolder,  loftier 
glance,  that  settled  into  something  of  a  soi'rowful 
gaze,  as  they  trod  the  marble  chancel.  He  did 
not  speak,  however,  even  to  admire  the  monu- 
mental windoAT,  though  he  paused  a  moment  be- 
fore it.  Following  Louis  into  the  vestry,  he  laid 
liis  Bible,  and  a  closely- written  manuscript,  on  the 
table.  Nevinson  was  there,  and  while  the  clerk  was 
assisting  all  three,  Meredith  asked  if  he  should 
assist  in  the  communion  service. 

"  You  have  both  hard  work  this  morning,  and  I 
shall  be  able  to  try  the  church  before  preaching." 

"  Thank  you,  I  shall  be  much  obliged  to  you," 
replied  Louis ;  "  but  I  dare  say  you  know  what  it 
is  never  to  feel  tired  till  the  work  is  over.  Head- 
ing prayers  is  always  a  refreshment." 

While  they  proceeded  in  state  to  their  stalls, 
Meredith  gravely  watched  tlie  train  of  surpliced 
singers,  and  once  or  twice  during  tlie  .service  his 
eyes  turned  with  a  serious  scrutinizing  gaze  from 
Louis  to  Nevinson,  and  back  again,  and  seemingly 
insensible  to  the  general  move  to  the  cast  in  the 


•J 


DASinvOOD    I'lIIOKV.  101 

Creed,  he  stood  still  facing  tlio  uoi-tli.  As  lie  and 
Ncvinson  left  the  communion-table,  and  retired 
to  the  vestry,  he  threw  oft"  his  surplice,  and  begged 
to  borrow  a  gown.  Ncvinson  politely  suggested 
to  him  their  custom  of  using  the  surplice.  Mere- 
dith hesitated  a  moment. 

'''  Well,  I  suppose  I  must  not  break  your  rules," 
he  answered,  '•'  as  I  am  an  interloper  for  this 
Sunday.  There  is  no  more  harm  in  one  than  the 
other.  It  is  Init  a  party  badge.  I  am  afraid,"  he 
added,  with  a  little  colour,  "  we  are  both  taken 
by  surprise.  You  will  at  any  rate  forgive  me 
after  my  confession,  and  we  shall  not  respect  each 
other  the  less." 

A  cloud  passed  over  Xevinson's  face.  He  made 
no  reply  as  ^Meredith  donned  the  surplice  again, 
and  declining  a  second  time  the  proffer  from  the 
clerk,  of  a  cap  originally  belonging  to  Trcvanuion, 
proceeded  to  the  pulpit,  followed  by  a  i^w  anxious 
and  rather  displeased  looks  from  his  colleague. 
There  was  a  depth  in  the  silent  petition  he  oU'cred 
for  strength  to  preach,  and  for  a  blessing  on  the 
word  preached,  Mhich  none  present  knew,  "though 
the  power  of  that  petition  was  visible  in  the  force 
with  which  his  bold  discourse  came  honu'  to  the 
hcai'ts  of  many  that  day. 

Louis  folded  his  arms,  and  sat  back  with  earnest 
attention  to  hear  what  his  friend  would  say. 

He  heard. 

"  And  Paul  stood   in  the  midst  of  Mars'  hill, 
and  said,  Ye  men  of  Athens,  I  perceive  that  in  all 
2  I) 


402  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

things  ye  are  too  superstitious.  For  as  I  passed 
by  and  beheld  your  devotions^  I  found  an  altar 
with  this  inscription :  to  the  unknown  God. 
"Whom,  therefore,  ye  ignorantly  worship,  Him 
declare  I  unto  you.^^ 

Nevinson  glanced  uneasily  at  Louis,  aud  found 
Louis'  eyes  fixed  on  him.  They  coloured,  and, 
prepared  again  to  listen,  Louis  with  more  curiosity 
than  displeasure,  and  Nevinson  rather  angry  and 
exceedingly  annoyed,  expecting  an  invective 
against  Puseyism.  Yet  before  ten  minutes  had 
elapsed,  the  attention  of  both  was  so  riveted  that 
the  anger  and  curiosity  were  equally  forgotten. 
!Meredith  commenced  quietly,  as  if  he  were  un- 
conscious that  the  erroneous  doctrines  to  which 
he  alluded  in  the  course  of  his  sermon,  were  held 
by  his  hearers,  with  a  slight  view  of  the  whole  of 
the  chapter,  and  then  with  the  wonderful  effect 
which  Paul's  "  new  doctrines "  must  have  pro- 
duced on  the  curious  Athenians.  He  then,  with- 
out a  pause,  as  one  who  had  the  mastery  of  his 
subject,  drew  a  spiritual  parallel  in  the  state  of 
the  Athenians  to  that  of  many  nominal  Chris- 
tians. And  this  he  did  without  the  slightest  ting^ 
of  personality.  Turning  to  several  passages  ia 
Galatians,  he"  spoke  on  the  obligation  entailed 
on  all  who  considered  the  observance  of  the  law 
necessary  to  salvation,  and  drawing  a  rapid  and 
forcible  distinction  between  the  Jewish  and  Chris- 
tian dispensation,  mentioned  the  confusion  that 
existed  in  the  minds  of  many  Christians  as  to  the 


DASinVOOD    PIUOKV.  403 

division  of  the  two.  Then  taking  up  the  last  part 
of  his  text,  "  Whom  ye  ignorantly  worship,  Him 
declare  I  unto  you,"  he  burst  into  a  glowing 
description  of  the  unalterable  covenant  of  grace ; 
and  here  it  seemed  as  if  he  had  burst  the  restraint 
the  more  argumentative  part  of  his  discourse  had 
imposed.  It  was  heartfelt  experience  and  joyful 
ti-ust  of  that  unchangeable  love  he  sought  to  exalt : 
"  This  is  my  friend  and  my  beloved,  the  chiefest 
among  ten  thousand."  At  times  he  leaned  upon 
the  pulpit  cushion,  and  seemed  lost  for  words  to 
express  the  joyful,  glorious  sense  he  had  of  His 
abiding  love.  "  How  different  was  that  spirit  of 
childlike  confidence  and  willing  obedience,"  he 
said,  "  to  the  spirit  of  bondage  which  deemed  it 
necessary  to  win  its  salvation  by  the  observance 
of  the  rigid  law — vain  hope  !  The  law  said,  *  The 
soul  that  sinncth  it  shall  die;'  Christ  is  not  ahalf 
Saviour."  "When  he  had  dwelt  on  the  comfort 
and  inexpressible  happiness  of  him  who  has  found 
Christ,  of  his  comfort  in  sorrow,  and  lastly,  his 
hope  in  the  world  to  come,  he  concluded  with  a 
grave  warning  to  those  who  might  in  a  cavilling 
spirit  accuse  him  of  encouraging  laxity  in  works. 
"  Shall  we  sin,  that  grace  may  abound?"  showing 
that  he  who  has  been  taught  of  the  spirit,  and  is 
a  tnu;  believer,  cannot  wilfully  sin;  that  faith 
without  works  is  a  dead  faith,  but  the  living  faith 
will  ever  work  by  love. 

Ncvinson  had  forgotten  his  anger :  there  had 
been  nothing   which   reflected  pcrsouiUly  on  him 
12  n  2 


404<  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

or  Louis,  and  the  gloM'ing,  glorious  Gospel  decla- 
ration found  a  response  in  his  heart.  Louis  sat 
almost  as  much  absorbed  as  he  had  been  by 
Mr.  Strangeways'  discourse.  But  the  sermon 
was  over,  the  simple  benediction  had  been  pro- 
nounced, the  organ  pealed  forth,  and  the  congre- 
gation dispersed  to  wonder  who  had  preached ; 
some  to  profit,  others  to  criticise  his  voice,  style, 
and  doctrine,  and  to  lose  all  advantage;  others, 
resuming  their  worldly  business  as  soon  as  they 
were  beyond  the  church-doors,  forgot  the  sounds 
as  soon  as  they  ceased.  Others  heard  and  re- 
joiced ;  but  the  good  seed  sown  withered,  for  it 
was  sown  on  stony  ground.  Ah,  how  often  may 
we  mourn  with  the  yearning  minister  of  God — 
who  has  felt  as  if  he  would  die,  if  his  people 
might  believe  the  words  at  his  mouth — in  the 
words  of  the  prophet  Ezekiel, — 

'^They  come  unto  thee  as  my  people  cometh, 
and  my  people  sit  ])efore  thee,  and  they  hear  my 
words,  but  they  m  ill  not  do  them :  for  with  their 
mouth  they  show  much  love,  but  their  heart  goeth 
after  covetousness.  And  lo  !  thou  art  unto  thera 
as  a  very  lovely  song  of  one  that  hath  a  pleasant 
voice,  and  can  play  well  on  an  instrument :  for 
they  hear  thy  words,  l)ut  they  do  them  not." 

Nevinson  and  Louis  both  thanked  Meredith 
for  his  sermon,  but  there  was  a  degree  of  con- 
straint in  Ncvinson's  manner.  He  declined 
Louis'  invitation  to  dine,  and  bade  him  and 
Meredith  adieu   at   the   vestry-door.      Meredith 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  405 

and  Louis  returned  to  the  vicarage,  where  a  cohl 
dinner  awaited  them.  Their  conversation  was 
such  as  becometli  saints. 

'•  They  spake  of  Him  they  loved." 

And  though  Louis  said  but  little  of  ^leredith's 
sermon,  he  thought  much,  and  portions  Avere 
constantly  recurring  to  his  mind  in  the  course  of 
the  day.  The  bands  l)y  which  he  liad  lately  been 
lightly  held,  seemed  all  at  once  to  have  burst, 
and  the  joyousness  of  spirit  which  these  new 
reflections  called  forth  at  times,  made  him  hardly 
know  where  he  was.  Mercditli  read  prayers  for 
him  in  tlic  afternoon ;  and  he  almost  wondered 
why  he  left  out  one  or  two  remarks  that  had  been 
written  down  in  his  sermon.  When  afternoon 
service  was  over,  the  friends  went  together  to  visit 
a  sick  parishioner ;  and  after  a  short  rest  and  tea 
at  home,  there  was  the  evening  service ;  and  it 
was  not  till  nearly  nine  o'clock  that,  witli  their 
little  supper  before  them  in  Trevannion's  library, 
they  were  alone  for  any  purposes  of  conversation. 
Louis  was  rather  tired,  and  said  little  until  prayers 
were  ended.  lie  asked  Meredith  to  perform  this 
sorxicc  for  him ;  and  wlien  the  servants  left  them 
alone  again,  he  suddenly  threw  himself  into  an 
arm-chair,  and  said  abrujjtly, — 

"  Meredith,  what  made  you  choose  that  text 
to-day  V  You  took  me  quite  by  surprise.  You  do 
not  always  preach  extempore,  I  suppose  ?" 

"What  makes  you  think  I  preached  extcn- 
porc?"  asked  Meredith. 


406  DASIIWOOT)   PRIORY. 

"  I  am  sure  you  did,"  replied  Louis,  witli  a 
siiglit  smile.  "  I  just  noAV  peeped  into  tliat  neat 
manuscript  you  took  out  of  your  pocket.  You 
did  not  preach  on  any  text  in  Isaiah  to-day." 

Meredith  coloured  a  little ;  but  he  saw  Louis 
was  not  offended,  and  answered, — 

"  I  once  before  preached  on  that  text,  and 
remembering  the  heads  of  ray  sermon,  was  able 
to  preach  without  notes ;  I  hope  without  much 
confusion.  I  seldom  write  my  sermons  fully 
out." 

"But  why  did  you  change  your  text?"  per- 
sisted Louis. 

Meredith  looked  very  earnestl}^  at  Louis,  with- 
out answering. 

"What  made  you  think  you  were  among 
idolaters?" 

"  Is  not  that  recollection  always  applicable  in 
a  mixed  congregation?"  asked  Meredith,  still 
looking  at  Louis.  "  Are  there  not  always  many 
who  worship  God  ignorantly  ?  My  dear  Louis,  I 
cannot  tell  }0u  how  grieved  I  always  am  when  I 
see  those  good  tidings  of  great  joy,  ignorantly 
covered  up  by  legal  bondage,  or  human  obser- 
vances ;  and  it  is  often  done  by  those  who  are  very 
zealous  for  God's  glory." 

"  But  why  did  you  change  it  ?  "  persisted  Louis. 
"  Because  you  think  we  ignorantly  worship  God? 
But  tell  me,  ^Meredith,  what  is  there  wrong  in 
reverence  for  those  things  set  apart  for  holy 
purposes  ?     There  is  and  has  been  a  great  deal  of 


DASIIWOOD    PRIORY.  407 

Lixity  and  iiuliffercncc  to  her  principles,  ^irliia 
the  very  lieart  of  the  Church  of  England  her- 
self— indifference  to  God's  glory." 

"  If  you  define  God's  glory  to  consist  in  church 
decorations,  and  chancel-screens,  and  turning  to 
the  east,  and  reading  the  prayers  where  the  con- 
gregation cannot  hear  them,  I  think  the  gi-eater 
laxity  the  better." 

"  Well,  I  did  not  like  the  reading-desk  arrange- 
ment, I  own,"  said  Louis  ;  "  hut  why  (juarrcl  with 
church  decorations?  Will  not  a  reverential  mind 
delight  to  adorn  the  house  of  his  God,  to  show  all 
possible  honour  to  His  sanctuary?" 

"  Certainly,  no  one  can  blame  a  reverence  for 
sacred  things  ;  and  if  they  are  founded  on  a  right 
basis,  it  will  not  go  too  far,"  replied  Meredith  ; 
"  but  these  errors  began  with  church  decorations, 
and  the  spiritually-minded  look  jealously  upon 
the  lavish  expenditiire  of  it." 

Now,  as  I  do  not  mean  to  make  my  little 
volume  a  vehicle  for  doctrinal  discussion,  I  pass 
over  the  long  conversation  that  ensued  on  the 
Baptismal  service  and  the  Ciuirch  articles.  Louis 
battled  for  some  time  in  defence  of  his  later  views, 
})Ut  at  last  acknowledged  his  friend's  superior 
wisdom.     ]\Icrcdith  concluded  by  remarking, — 

"The  High-church  party  accuse  the  J'^vangc- 
lical  of  naiTOw-mindedncss ;  but  the  truth  is,  we 
are  bound  by  no  sect.  We  can  say,  *  Grace  l)e 
with  all  that  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sin- 
ctritv;'  while  the   High  Churchman   will   not  go 


'.'  ' 


408  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

beyond  the  narrow  limits  of  that  portion  of  the 
Church  of  Christ  to  which  he  is  ordained  minister, 
unless  he  accord  the  same  grace  to  the  Romanist, 
by  virtue  of  his  Apostolic  succession,  in  preference 
to  the  Dissenter,  avIio,  in  truth,  professes  tlie  same 
faith,  though  he  changes  the  form  of  Avorship." 

"Oh, Meredith!"  exclaimed  Louis,  starting  from 
his  chair,  "  I  am  very  iinstable.  I  see  hoAV  it  is  :  / 
who  was  going  to  do  so  much  here — I  have  been 
perverted,  at  least  almost  perverted  myself.  I  wish 
I  had  not  left  Dashwood,  I  have  had  nothing  but 
controversy  ever  since ;  first  on  one  side,  and  then 
on  the  other.  What  good  does  it  ever  to  any  one  ? 
why  cannot  we  believe  in  all  our  Saviour  has  done 
for  us,  without  calling  ourselves  Calvinist  or 
Arminian  ?  I  knew,  to  be  sure,  the  existence  of 
such  differences,  but  they  were  nothing  to  mc; 
and  I  have  been  neither  happier  nor  more  useful 
since  I  have  been  forced  into  these  arguments. 
Why  must  men  be  eternally  arguing  on  points 
which  they  never  can  understand  ?  " 

"And  yet,  I  think  a  clergyman  must  make 
himself  acquainted  with  doctrinal  differenc^es," 
replied  Meredith,  "  or  else  he  will  allow  himself 
and  his  flock  with  him  to  be  blown  about  with 
every  Avind  of  doctrine ;  and  even  controversy  has 
its  uses.  Men,  with  all  their  indolence  and  lukc- 
warmness,  might  in  many  cases  cease  to  search 
their  Bibles  diligently,  if  these  disputed  points  did 
not  rouse  them  to  examination  and  self-defence. 
We  are  commanded  to  prove  all  ih'uKjs,  and  to 


DASHWOOl)    PUIORV.  409 

have  an  answer  for  every  one  Uiat  askcth  us  a  rea- 
son of  the  hope  that  is  in  i/s." 

Louis  was  silent,  and  Meredith  sat  intently 
watching  the  changing  expression  and  flitting 
colour  of  his  downcast  face.  Presently  he  raised 
his  head,  and  spoke  hurriedly,  and  with  much 
emotion. 

"  But,  oh,  Meredith !  for  that  childlike  spirit 
tiiat  made  David  say,  '  Lord,  I  have  not  exercised 
myself  in  matters  that  are  too  great  for  me.'  I 
do  not  want  to  know  more  than  God  teaches  mc 
Himself." 

"  Well,  that  is  right,"  said  Meredith,  gently. 
"  ^yhat  then  ?  Does  that  militate  against  your 
making  yourself  sure  on  those  points  which  God 
has  revealed  r " 

"  No ;  but  may  we  not  sometimes  go  further, 
or  try  to  go  further,  than  God  has  revealed, 
Meredith?"  he  added,  with  large  glistening  eyes. 
"  1  never  imagined  such  thoughts  as  have  been 
put  into  my  mind  lately.  1  am  not  strong  enough 
nor  calm  enough  for  hard  matters,  and  God's  own 
^Vord  says, '  Him  that  is  weak  in  the  faith  receive 
ye,  but  not  to  doubtful  dis[)utations.'  " 

"But  what  hard  matters  distress  you  now?" 
said  Meredith.  "  1  thought  we  had  settled  all  tiie 
doubtful  points." 

"No;  when  those  are  quieted,  the  hardest  rise. 
If  I  have  gone  wrong,  !Meredith,  T  owe  it,  humanly 
speaking,  to  quite  an  opposite  iuilueuce.  Mere- 
dith, are  you  a  Calvinist?" 


410  DASH  WOOD    Pin  OK  Y. 

"  I  am  not  very  fond  of  the  names  of  Calvinist 
and  Arminian/^  replied  Meredith,  gravely;  "  I 
believe  that  man  is  saved  by  God's  grace  alone, 
and  that  the  faith  by  which  he  believes,  is  like- 
wise solely  His  gift ;  that  without  His  spirit  help- 
ing us,  we  can  perform  no  good  work ;  that  He 
has  loved  us  with  an  everlasting  love,  and  there- 
lore  with  loving-kindness  He  has  drawn  us.  I 
believe,  in  short,  dear  Louis,  what  the  Bible  says, 
and  I  trust  I  try  to  receive  all  in  a  child-like 
spirit ;  and  as  a  child  cannot  be  made  to  under- 
stand many  things  he  gradually  learns  as  he 
reaches  manhood,  so  I  believe  there  are  many 
things  we  could  not  understand,  even  if  God  chose 
to  reveal  them  to  us,  and  my  mind  quietly  rests 
there,  thankful  for  the  love  that  has  given  me 
salvation,  and  content  to  understand  why,  when 
God  pleases  to  teach  me ;  and  if  He  never  see  fit 
to  teach  me  more  of  His  secret  things,  to  rest 
confidently  on  His  unerring  Misdom  and  unfailing 
love/' 

"  And  that  is  just  where  I  wish  to  rest,  Mere- 
dith," said  Louis,  in  a  low  voice ;  "  but  lately,  I 
have  not  been  allowed  to  do  so.  I  have  been 
forced  into  controversy  on  those  mysterious  arti- 
cles, Free  will,  and  God's  Sovereignty ;  and  I  have 
been  constantly  pushed  so  far,  and  dictated  to  so 
dogmatically,  that  whenever  the  subject  has  been 
mentioned  to  me,  it  has  caused  an  aching,  trem- 
bling sensation,  and  made  me  feel  farther  from  my 
Saviour;  and  I  have  seen  this  doctrine,  in  more 


DASH  WOOD    PIUORV, 


111 


tlian  one  instance,  so  little  productive  of  cliarity 
and  lovely  conversation,  that  it  has  been  no 
■wonder  if  I  have,  whether  in  a  spirit  of  op])osition 
1  know  not,  been  influenced  the  other  way.  The 
manner  in  which  this  doctrine  has  been  urj^ed 
upon  me,  has  been  such  that  it  created  a  repug- 
nance and  rebellion  where  none  existed  previously, 
and  has  naturally  made  me  fly  to  those  in  whom 
I  have  found  more  visibly  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit, — 
*  Love,  long-sull'ering,  goodness,  meekness,  gentle- 
ness ;'  and  these  are  so  eminently  conspicuous  in 
dear  Nevinson,  that  I  suppose  my  heart  through 
hira,  became  inclined,  without  knowing  it,  to  cm- 
brace  his  errors,  where  joined  to  so  much  piety/' 

"But  who  are  you  speaking  of?"  asked  Mere- 
dith.    "  AVhat  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Some  very  extreme  Calvinists  whom  I  have 
lately  met,''  replied  Louis.  "  One  is  an  old  friend 
of  my  father's,  and  I  came  here  with  a  feeling  of 
veneration  and  respect  for  him,  and  this  wa.s 
gn.-atly  increased  by  his  pleasant  manners  and 
kind  attention  to  me  on  my  arrival.  At  his  house 
I  became  acquainted  with  a  young  clergyman, 
who  holds  a  chapel  of  case  here.  I  had  heard 
~S\r.  Straugeways  preach,  and  was  quite  delighted 
at  the  ])rospect  of  knowing  him.  Since  then,  I 
have  been  so  grievously  disajjpointed  at  never 
hearing,  either  iiom  his  lips  or  those  of  iiis  Hock, 
wiiom  I  have  met  from  time  to  time,  any  sweet 
conversation  on  the  love  of  Christ  and  on  our  duties 
as  members  of  His  body,  and  yet  so  much  vitu- 


412  DASIIWOOD    PRIORY. 

peratioii  against  all  who  differ  from  tliem,  that  I 
cannot  tell  you  how  angry  I  have  sometimes  felt, 
when  I  returned  from  their  company,  Avhere  they 
liad  had  the  bad  taste  to  speak  to  me  of  my  friends, 
to  hear  Nevinson^s  sweet  remarks  on  them ;  to 
see  how  closely  Nevinson  endeavours  to  walk,  how 
careful  he  is  not  to  bring  dishonour  on  the  religion 
he  professes.  Is  it  wonderful  I  should  listen  to 
jSievinson  and  be  willing  to  be  persuaded  by  him?'' 

"  But  has  there  been  no  pride  and  self-will  in 
yourself,  Louis  ?  " 

"  I  know  it ;  I  know  it/'  said  Louis,  excitedly 
walking  to  the  window  and  back ;  "  so  much  that 
I  was  often  afraid ;  and  yet,  Meredith,  I  often 
prayed,  '  That  which  I  see  not,  teach  Thou  me.'  " 

"  And  the  prayer  will  be  answered,  dear  Louis, 
rest  assured,"  said  Meredith,  kind]}-.  "  God  only 
can  teach  His  own  things,  and  '  He  that  believeth 
shall  not  make  haste.' " 

"  How  often  I  am  reminded  of  that  passage," 
said  Louis,  thoughtfully,  "  And  so  I  would  Avisli 
to  wait  patiently  ;  but  is  it  not  strange,  jMeredith, 
that  believing  that  none  but  the  elect  can  believe, 
and  that  no  man  can  convince  another,  this  party 
should  attempt  to  force  a  conviction  on  me  which, 
supjiosing  it  be  a  right  one,  it  is  utterly  impossible 
man's  unaided  reason  can  believe  ?  " 

"  It  is  strange,  and  inconsistent  too,"  replied 
Meredith  ;  "but  we  are  a  mass  of  inconsistencies. 
A  dear  friend  of  mine  used  to  say,  '  Great  zeal  and 
great  judgment  would  make  a  perfect  character.' 


n.vsnwooi)  phiohy.  113 

You  cannot  expect  it.  You  must  not  forget  how 
raucli  of  our  natural  character  we  carry  into 
relip:iou." 

"  I  can  go  with  my  father's  friend  a  certain 
distance/'  said  Louis ;  "  but  he  goes  beyond  me  ; 
lie  sets  God's  elcctinii-  sovereignty  first,  and  thinks 
nothing  of  any  moment  but  that ;  and  there  seems 
to  me  a  majesty  but  no  tenderness  in  his  view ;  a 
sternness  that  makes  me  tremble.  If  I  bcheved 
as  lie  does,  I  could  not  preach.  It  is  fatalism  to 
me.  I  do  not  wonder  lii.s  favoui'ite  preachers 
never  invite  sinners  to  come." 

"  I  think  you  should  not  dwell  upon  it,  cer- 
tainly, Louis,  if  it  excites  you  in  such  a  manner; 
but  why  ? — we  know  our  free-will  and  the  sove- 
reignty of  God  are  twined  together  so  myste- 
riously, that  we  cannot  separate  them.  We  feel 
our.>elves  responsible  ibr  our  actions,  and  yet  a 
secret  something  tells  us  a  greater  will  than  man's 
orders  all  and  turns  all  to  His  own  purposes. 

'  There's  a  Divinity  tli.it  .sli.apes  our  end* 
liough  Lew  them  .'is  we  will.' 

I  was  very  much  struck  with  a  licautiful  view 
of  God's  love  and  his  all-seeing  foreknowledge 
put  forth  in  a  public  meeting  at  which  1  was 
present  a  short  time  ago.  It  was  to  this  pmport  : 
'The  lost  will  always  know  and  hmient  in  vain 
remorse  their  suicidal  iudillc'rencc;  to  (lod's  prof- 
fered mercy  to  all.  The  cry  of  each  will  be,  "  1 
did  it  myself!"  while,  at  tlic  same  tiuu-,  the 
crown  of  the   ransomed  will  be  ever  cast  ut  the 


414  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

Redeemer's  feet,  and  their  song  sliall  be,  "  Not 
unto  us,  O  Lord,  but  unto  Thy  name  be  glory." 
"  Grace,  grace  !  "  "  He  hath  loved  us  with  an 
everlasting  love,  therefore  with  loving-kindness 
hath  He  drawn  us  !  "  ^  The  concluding  observa- 
tion of  the  speaker  was  thrillingly  lovely.  He 
bade  us  notice  that  word  of  our  Lord,  '  When  the 
Son  of  Man  shall  sit  on  the  throne  of  His  glory, 
and  all  nations  shall  be  gathered  together  before 
Him,  He  shall  say  to  them  on  his  right  hand. 
Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  king- 
dom PREPARED  FOR  YOU  FROM   THE  FOUNDATION  OP 

THE  WORLD ;  but  to  them  on  the  left  He  will  say. 
Depart  from  me  ye  cursed  into  everlasting  lire, 
prepared,  not    for  yoit,  but  for  the  devil  and 

HIS  ANGELS.'  "  * 

"  Oh,  Meredith  !  "  exclaimed  Louis,  starting 
forward,  "  that  word  is  worth  ten  thousand  of  gold 
and  silver.  Oh  !  surely  the  clear  Word  of  God 
has  an  answer  for  every  doubt.  I  want  nothing 
more  now.  Surely,  in  His  love,  he  permitted, 
nay,  sent  you  to  point  this  out  to  me.  I  am  so 
thankful.    A  weiglit  seems  taken  from  my  heart." 

"  I  know  all  your  anxiety  by  experience,"  said 
Meredith,  "  and  I  suspect  I  have  been  much  harder 
of  conviction  than  you,  much  longer  in  coming  to 
a  knowledge  of  the  truth.     I  was  so  rebellious, 

"'  The  above  beautiful  and  animating  remark  waa  heard  by 
the  writer  from  Dr.  Cumming's  lips,  at  a  recent  public  meeting. 
As  the  events  of  the  story  are  supposed  to  talcc  place  a  few  years 
back,  the  authority  could  not  be  quoted  in  the  text. 


DASinvooD  puiohy.  415 

that  1  am  often  lost  in  -wonderment  at  the  patience 
that  bore  ^vith  me,  and  saved  mc  in  spite  of  a\]. 
Like  yourself,  I  was  violently  opposed  to  the  re- 
ception of  this  doctrine  from  the  conduct  of  some 
of  its  extreme  upholders.  There  was  a  large 
family  near  my  father's,  who,  in  tlie  long  vacations, 
finding  I  was  seriously  disposed  (that  was  dear 
Dashwood's  work),  made  much  of  me ;  and  I  was 
in  some  danger  of  being  puffed  up,  had  it  not  been 
for  my  remembrance  of  your  liappy  home,  and 
the  living  epistle  I  had  read  there.  They  were 
Dissenters,  and  attended  a  large  chapel  in  our 
neighbourhood.  There  was  very  much  in  their 
conversation  that  you  mention ;  and  finding,  at 
last,  that  I  did  not  hold  their  views,  I  was  deluged 
with  books, — sermons,  memoirs,  and  antidotes ; 
all  of  which  being  presented  or  lent  with  'a  pur- 
pose,' only  made  me  the  more  violently  opposed, 
the  latter  suggesting  numbers  of  oppositions  which 
I  should  never  otherwise  have  thought  of.  It  was 
the  Bible — the'  Bible  alone,  that  convinced  me 
long  after."  He  paused,  as  if  a  sorrowful  recol- 
lection had  come  over  him. 

"But  did  they  live  consistently?"  asked  Ijouis. 

"No;  that  was  the  great  stumbling-block  to 
inc,"  said  Meredith.  "The  wiiole  family  regu- 
larly went  to  chapel  every  Sunday,  and  to  prayer- 
meetings  in  the  week  ;  praycr-mectings  were  held 
in  the  house.  AVhilc  the  young  people  were 
children,  tiicy  attended  all  this  ;  but  as  the  boys 
grew  up  they  became  the  wildest,  most  reckless. 


410 


DASinVOOD    PRIORY. 


depraved  young  men  in  the  neighbourhood ;  scof- 
fers at  religion  and  making  mock  at  sin.  There 
was  no  wonder  why,  Louis.  No  tender  parent's 
love  had  taught  them  of  the  love  of  Christ ;  of 
the  unerring  signs  of  fellowship  with  Him.  I 
was  much  with  them,  both  in  childhood  and  youth, 
but  never  once  in  my  hearing,  and  others  remarked 
the  same, — never  once  were  the  parents  known  to 
remind  them  that  they  sinned  against  God ;  never 
taught  them  to  strive  to  enter  the  strait  gate. 
I  have  seen  them  severely  punished  for  a  fault, 
often  trifling ;  but  you  will  hardly  believe  that  with 
this,  on  no  one  occasion  was  the  slightest  allusion 
made  to  the  sin  committed  against  God.  Louis/' 
continued  Meredith,  after  a  pause,  "  God  makes 
the  corn  to  grow,  and  orders  that  men  shall  build 
themselves  habitations,  and  work  for  their  sub- 
sistence ;  but  the  corn  must  be  sown,  the  building 
must  be  raised  by  man's  labour,  the  sustenance 
sought;  and  the  diligent  hand  makes  rich.  God 
is  the  giver  of  all,  and  the  sovereign  disposer  of 
all ;  but  He  chooses  that  '  man  shall  work,  as  if  all 
depended  upon  him,  a)idpray,  as  if  nothing  depended 
upon  him.^ "  "^ 

"  That  is  exactly  what  I  think,"  said  Louis : 
"  there  is  the  promise,  '  Wliat  a  man  soweth, 
that  shall  he  also  reap ;'  and  there  is  the  command, 
*  Strive  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate,' '  Work  while 
it  is  called  to-day.'  " 

"  I  once  heard  a  deai'  old  clergyman  remark," 

*  Recollections  of  a  remark  in  a  sennon. 


DASmVOOD    PKIORY.  417 

continued  Meredith,  "  one  of  the  most  spiritually- 
minded  Christians  I  ever  beheld,  '  /  am  a  Cul- 
vinist  to-dciy  and  an  Arminian  to-morrow;  I  find 
both  in  the  Bible.'  " 

"  I  need  not  ask  you,  after  this  morning's  ser- 
mon/' said  Louis,  "whether  you  think  it  right 
to  persuade  and  invite  sinners  to  come  to  Christ." 

A  holy  smile  passed  over  Meredith's  face  as  he 
looked  upwards. 

"  Shall  man  rebuke  those  whom  Christ  suffers 
to  come  ?  '  Come  unto  Him  all  ye  tliat  lal)our. 
Ho  every  one  that  thirsteth  come  ye  to  the  waters. 
The  Spirit  and  the  bride  say  come,  and  let  him  that 
heareth  say  come,  and  whosoever  will  let  him 
come.'  Read  our  Lord's  sermon  on  the  mouut. 
Read  His  declaration  on  the  great  day  of  the  feast ; 
read  all  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  through.  How 
did  the  Apostles  preach  ?  '  Repent.'  '  God  callcth 
upon  all  men  everywhere  to  repent.'  No,  Louis ; 
poor  weak  men,  encompassed  with  infirmity,  wc 
ought  to  have  compassion  on  the  ignorant,  and 
them  who  art  out  of  the  way.  We  are  ambassa- 
dors for  Christ,  to  persuade  men  to  be  reconciled 
to  God.  As  long  as  my  God  gives  me  a  tongue 
to  proclaim,  I  will  cry  'Co:mk.  Free  grace,  re- 
pentance, faith,  arc  all  offered.'  There  is  room 
in  the  Savioui-'s  arms  for  all.     He  died  for  all." 

"Meredith,  this  lias  been  a  bh-sscd  Sunday  to 

me,"  said  Louis,  holding  out  his  hand  to  his  friend, 

which  ^Meredith  gnuspcd  warmly.    "  When  I  iiavc^ 

fancied  sometimes  tliat  Mr.  \\v\U  might  be  right, 

2  L 


418  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

my  hands  have  seemed  paralyzed  ;  I  have  felt  I 
should  in  such  case  feel  like  him^  no  interest  in 
missionary  efforts  or  pastoral  aid  associations^  or 
anything  by  which  the  knowledge  of  Christ  is 
spread.  Where  would  the  heathen  be,  and  where 
should  we  have  been,  had  the  Apostles  been  of  the 
same  mind  ?  Meredith,  between  High  and  Low 
Church,  I  have  heard  and  really  thought  little 
lately  about  missions.  I  want  to  hear  about  your- 
self. How  is  it  you  are  leaving  your  friends  and 
home  ?  I  used  once  to  wish  to  be  a  missionary, 
but  lately  I  have  either  distrusted  my  powers,  or 
have  been  unwilling  to  leave  all  for  Christ's  sake. 
When  did  you  first  think  of  it  ?" 

"  Long  ago,^'  replied  Meredith,  slowly ;  "  be- 
fore— before  I  was  married,  Louis,"  he  said,  with 
a  spasmodic  effort.  "  My  dear  Mary  used  to  talk 
of  it  with  me,  and  we  used  to  look  forward  to 
going  out  together;  but  that  was  not  to  be.  Our 
Heavenly  Father  saw  perhaps  I  made  an  idol  of 
her.  It  used  to  be  such  a  dream,"  he  continued, 
in  a  thick  voice.  "  It  used  to  be  such  a  dream  to 
bring  her  to  Dashwood.  Such  a  twelvemonth  of 
happiness  could  not  last  on  earth ;  but  I  never 
thought  of  her  removal." 

"Dear  Meredith,"  said  Louis,  "I  did  not  mean 
to  touch  on  that  again.  I  am  very  indiscreet.  I 
wish  we  had  heard  of  this  before." 

"  I  yearned  much  for  a  Dashwood  letter,  though 
I  easily  divined  the  cause  of  your  silence,"  said 
Meredith,  when  he  had  recovered  himself;  "but 


DASUWOOD    PRIORY.  41!) 

T  could  not  write  myself,  and  I  have  been  very 
much  occupied  latciv,  for  there  has  been  much  to 
arrange.  I  should  not  have  left  England  this 
year  perhaps,  but  an  earnest  appeal  has  been 
made  to  me,  knowing  my  intentions,  to  go  to 
Africa  as  early  as  possible.  I  could  not  hesitate, 
and  it  has  been  mercifully  ordered,  I  doubt  not. 
I  trust  I  can  say  with  Isaiah,  *  Here  I  am,  Lord, 
send  me ; '  but,  Louis,  you  cannot  tell  how 
precious  every  nook  of  that  Rectory  had  become. 
I  do  not  think  it  was  a  morbid  remembrance  of 
her,  for  indeed  I  would  not  call  her  back;  but 
every  thing,  every  room,  almost  every  chair 
reminds  me  of  some  sweet  act  of  hers.  It  will 
do  me  good  to  speak  of  her  to  you.  You  cannot 
tell  how  she  was  beloved  by  high  and  low  :  so 
sweet,  so  gentle-hearted,  and  so  true,  and  yet  so 
bold  in  her  Saviour's  cause.  What  I  owe  to  her 
I  cannot  tell  you.  A  helpmate  she  was  in  every 
sense.  So  tender  her  conscience  was,  and  thougli 
loving  me  so  dearly,  her  love  for  her  lledecraer  was 
where  it  should  ever  be,  a  thousand-fold  beyond." 

Meredith  paused  a  moment,  for  his  voice  had 
failed.     Presently  he  continued — 

"They  say,  A^hcn  a  loved  one  is  taken  from  us, 
we  arc  always  blind  to  imperfections;  but  I  never 
saw  any  there,  Louis  :  slic  knew  and  lilt  tlu'iu, 
'but  the  constant  power  of  restraining  grace  over- 
came them  to  mortal  eyes.  I  wish  you  had  seen 
[her.  She  was  not  at  all  beautiful ;  even  my 
loving  eyes  saw  that;  but  do  you  know  that  lial'» 
')  I-  '> 

4V      I'      r^ 


420  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

peace  gives  to  the  countenance,  and  that  sort  of 
expression  in  the  eyes  as  if  they  were  looking 
beyond,  Louis?" 

"  I  have  noticed  it  in  several  Christians,"  replied 
Louis. 

"  I  never  saw  it  in  any  one  so  strongly  as 
it  was  in  my  Mary,"  continued  Meredith,  in  a 
low  quick  voice;  "and  she  was  always  looking 
beyond,  'looking  to  Jesus.^  Truly  of  her  it 
might  be  said,  '  He  that  findeth  a  wife,  findeth  a 
good  thing,  and  obtaineth  favour  of  the  Lord.' 
I  remember  so  well,  last  summer,  such  a  night  as 
this,  we  had  finished  all  our  Sabbath  labours  of 
love,  and  both  were  tired ;  she  unusually  so,  sat, 
as  she  often  loved  to  sit,  on  a  low  stool,  with  her 
arms  and  head  on  my  knee.  There  is  a  lovely 
view  from  my  old  home ;  a  wooded  country  for  a 
quarter  of  a  mile,  and  the  sea  beyond.  The  sun 
was  setting,  and  the  calm  water  reflected  all  its 
colours.  We  watched  its  silent  sinking  below  the 
horizon,  and  the  rising  of  the  pale  moon  and 
evening  star.  You  know  how  lovely  a  time  that 
is ;  it  always  seems  to  speak  of  heaven  to  me,  and 
so  it  did  to  Mary  :  perhaps  she  drew  me  more  to 
the  observation  of  it.  Suddenly  she  began  to  sing — 

*  Awake  and  sing  the  song 
Of  Moses  and  the  Lamb  !' 

I  joined  her;  and  oh,  how  well  I  remember  how 
softly  and  how  sweetly  she  sang  two  verses.  She 
broke  off  at  the  second,  and  said,  '  I  saw  a  sea  of 
glass  mingled  with  fire,  and  them  that  had  gotten 


DASH  WOOD    PRIORY.  421 

the  victory  over  the  beast,  and  over  his  image, 
and  over  liis  mark,  and  over  tlie  number  of  liis 
name,  stand  on  the  sea  of  glass,  having  the  harps 
of  God  ;  and  they  sing  the  song  of  ]\roses,  the 
servant  of  God,  and  tlie  song  of  the  Lamb,  say- 
ing, Great  and  marvellous  are  Thy  works,  Lord 
God  Almighty  ;  just  and  true  are  Thy  ways,  Thou 
king  of  saints  !  AYlio  sliall  not  fear  Thee,  O 
Lord,  and  glorify  Thy  name  ?  for  Thou  only  art 
holy/  Then  she  looked  up  at  me  and  said, 
'  Hastings,  how  many  things  in  the  Revelation  I 
am  reminded  of  at  these  hours.  How  graeious 
our  blessed  Teacher  is  to  enable  us  to  see  Him  in 
His  works.  Sometimes  when  I  think  of  all  His 
love  to  us  both,  I  am  afraid  Ave  should  forget  Him 
in  His  many  bounties.'  And  then  she  raised  her- 
self, and  spoke  so  rapturously  about  the  joy  of 
being  always  in  God's  presence — of  the  eternal 
Sabbath  we  should  spend  together.  I  cannot  tell 
you  how  rapt  her  spirit  seemed ;  and  now  1 
almost  wonder  no  fear  stole  over  me  that  she  was 
80  fit  for  licavcn,  but  there  was  no  presentiment 
in  my  mind  how  near  slie  was  to  the  commence- 
ment of  that  eternal  Sabbath. 

*  A  Blumber  did  my  Hpirits  Hcnl, 
I  h;i(l  no  buiiiun  fears  ; 
Slie  Heemed  a  tiling  that  couId  not  feci 
The  touch  of  earthly  ^-oars. 
*  *  «  41  « 

'  A  violet  by  a  mossy  stone, 

Half-hiddeu  from  the  eye, — 
Fair  as  a  star,  when  only  ono 
Id  shining  in  the  sky.'" 


422  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

Meredith  paused,  and  Louis  did  not  break  the 
little  silence. 

"  She  said  to  me  much  that  night,"  he  con- 
tinued, "about  the  second  coming  of  Christ: 
many  things  that  took  me  back  to  Dashwood, 
^vhere  I  heard  much  of  it.  I  did  not  know  till 
then  how  much  she  looked  forward  to  that  glorious 
time,  nor  had  I  thought  it  a  duty,  as  I  have  since 
done,  to  keep  it  constantly  before  my  people. 
That  blessed  remembrance  is  indeed  much  lost 
sight  of.  Well  might  our  Lord  say,  '  When  the 
Son  of  man  cometh,  shall  He  hud  faith  upon  the 
earth?'  Truly  even  the  wise  sleep. — Dear  Mary, 
I  can  recall  now  the  earnestness  of  her  manner 
as  she  said,  '  Hastings,  that  coming  will  take  the 
whole  world  by  surprise ;  we  need  constant  com- 
munion. I  often  feel  a  little  afraid — we  have  so 
happy  a  home — lest  we  should  forget  that  we 
have  no  continuing  city  here;  and  that  solemn 
injunction,  "  Watch  and  pray  always,  that  ye  may 
be  counted  worthy  to  escape  the  things  which 
shall  come  to  pass,  and  to  stand  before  the  Son  of 
man." '  Then  she  put  her  dear  hands  together  in 
mine,  and  asked  me  to  pray  for  us,  that  our  love 
for  each  other  might  not  be  a  snare  to  us.  Oh, 
Louis  !  how  she  held  my  hands  up.  They  would 
often  have  been  wearied  in  well-doing." 

"  And  she  would  say  the  same  of  you,"  said 
Louis,  in  a  faltering  voice. 

Another  little  pause  of  fond  recollection,  and 
the  mourner  proceeded, — 


DASUWOOD    PRIOKY.  423 

"  Just  four  months  ago ;  only  four  short 
months,  Louis : — you  Mill  know  my  happiness  if 
it  ever  pleases  God  to  make  you  a  father. — My 
precious  little  girl !  my  lamb  in  heaven." 

"Oh,  Meredith  !"  Louis'  eyes  were  filled  with 
tears,  "your  bal)y  :  I  did  not  know  yet  the  whole 
of  your  trial." 

"  In  a  fortnight  she  was  laid  in  our  little 
churchyard,  Louis,"  said  ^Meredith,  bending  his 
head  down  and  speaking  low ;  "  another  fortnight, 
and  the  mother  was  laid  by  her.  Oh,  Louis  !  the 
first  was  a  great  grief,  but  the  last — I  wonder," 
he  added,  in  a  choking  voice,  "  how  the  worldly 
survive  the  loss  of  friends,  when  the  children  of 
God  require  so  much  of  such  support.  But  the 
strength  was  given  according  to  the  day.  I  often 
wonder  how  I  was  enabled  to  be  so  cheerful,  when 
I  knew  I  must  give  her  up.  Thank  God!"  he 
said,  reverentially  looking  upwards  with  swimming 
eyes,  "  I  believr  I  never  murmured,  nor  wislied  to 
stay  His  hand.  Thank  God,  though  the  head  was 
bent,  I  could  lean  it  on  His  bosom  ;  and  there 
He  has  wiped  my  tears  again  and  again." 

Louis  drew  his  hand  across  his  eyes,  and  both 
were  silent  for  several  minutes. 

"  I  have  seen  several  death-beds,"  said  Mere- 
dith at  length,  not  heeding  an  ellbrt  of  Louis  to 
stop  him  ;  "  I  have  seen  cue  or  two  happy  ones, 
and  have  read  of  many  more,  but  I  never  heard  or 
read  of  one  more  triumphant  than  my  dcnr  Mary's. 
Every  comfort  that  could  be  given  to  a  poor  weak 


424  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

man  in  his  hour  of  need  was  given  to  me  then. 
Once  she  turned  her  sweet  eyes  upon  me  as  I 
supported  her  head.  '  Hastings^  you  will  be  so 
lonely  ? '  It  was  almost  in  the  form  of  a  question. 
'  You  forget/  I  said^  '  my  own  one_,  He  hath 
said,  "  I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee.^^ ' 
'  Alone,  yet  not  alone/  she  murmured  ;  '  both 
separated,  yet  not  alone ;  both  willing  to  part  ? ' 
she  asked  again  so  anxiously  of  me.  '  Both  willing 
that  the  Father's  will  shall  be  done ;  both  rejoic- 
ing in  His  love  to  them,'  I  answered.  Oh  !  Louis, 
she  looked  so  gratefully  at  me,  and  thanked  me 
so  sweetly  for  the  love  I  could  not  have  refused ; 
and  many  times  I  heard  her  murmur,  '  And  yet  I 
am  not  alone,  for  the  Father  is  with  me,'  when 
she  almost  always  looked  at  me  as  if  anxious 
to  know  that  I  was  resting  on  it, — dear  one !  I 
had  wonderful  strength  given  at  that  time.  When 
the  last  was  over  (she  died  in  my  arms),  I  felt  at 
first  as  if  I  could  not  mourn.  We  had  rejoiced 
together  that  she  was  going  to  her  Father,  and  I 
could  only  say  with  Mrs.  Graham  to  her  daughter, 
'  I  wish  you  joy,  my  darling  ! '  and  it  Avas  not  till 
rest  and  recollection  came,  and  that  first  awaken- 
ing from  a  long  deep  sleep,  that  I  realized  the  ful- 
ness of  my  trouble ;  that  I  knew  the  desire  of  my 
eyes  had  gone  from  me.  It  seemed  so  strange  to 
kiss  her  cold  lips,  and  feel  no  return ;  to  go  among 
our  favourite  haunts,  and  miss  her :  and,  Louis, — 
oh,  Louis !  it  was  a  comfort  to  me  to  remember 
the  '  strong  crying '   of  our  beloved  Lord,  who  is 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  425 

afflicted  in  all  the  affliction  of  Ilis  people,  for  lie 
has  been  tried  in  all  points  as  we  are.  The  room 
in  which  she  died  always  seems  the  gate  of  heaven 
to  me.  AVhat  a  meeting  ours  will  be  !  Instead 
of  sinking,  I  thank  God  I  am  now  only  strength- 
ened in  zeal,  and  burn  to  exalt  His  cause  and 
spread  His  kingdom,  that  so  I  may  be  enabled  to 
gloiify  Him  in  the  fires,  and  press  forward.  I  must 
not  look  back,  it  is  such  gain  to  her.  "When  I  look 
up,  I  feel  only  the  Christian^s  triumph  ;  but  when 
we  look  down  to  the  grave  and  all  its  dark  ac- 
comi)animents,  the  spirit  fails.  You  will  think  of 
me  when  I  am  away,  Louis,"  he  said,  rising,  "and 
pray  for  me.  I  shall  need  all  prayers ;  and  *  pray 
that  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  Avill  send  forth  more 
lal)ourers  into  His  harvest.^'' 

Louis  grasped  Meredith's  hand,  and  detained 
hira  a  moment.  He  could  not  speak  at  first, 
though  the  brave  spirit  of  his  friend  had  infused 
some  of  its  exulting  tone  into  his  lieart. 

"  Meredith,  you  arc  a  living  witness  of  God's 
power  in  upholding  His  own  in  the  day  of  trouble. 
I  have  been  very  fearful,  often  fearing  possible 
afflictions.     You  have  strengthened  mc." 

I^Ieredith  pressed  his  hand. 

"  Never  doubt  His  love  or  strength. 

'  Tis  JcHua,  the  first  and  the  last, 
Whose  Spirit  sliall  jjiiido  us  nalo  h<itno  ; 

Wo'll  ])raise  Him  for  nil  that  in  pant, 
And  tiUMt  Hiiij  for  all  that's  to  conic.' " 

The    friends    parted.      Louis    knelt    lung    that 


436  DASHWCOD    PRIORY. 

night  in  prayer.  There  were  many  things  to 
bring  before  his  God.  Thanksgiving  for  the  good 
he  had  received  that  day,  and  earnest  desires  that 
any  error  he  might  have  propagated  among  the 
people  committed  to  his  temporary  care  might  not 
take  root;  and  petitions  for  the  renewal  of  a  con- 
stant spirit  and  a  right  judgment  in  all  things; 
forgiveness  for  his  pride  and  anger  against  Mr. 
Wells,  for  whom,  as  well  as  his  dear  friends,  he 
prayed  that  God  would  teach  and  keep  them; 
and  oh  !  how  earnest  were  his  resolves  to  undo, 
if  possible,  in  the  parish  any  evil  he  might  have 
been  the  means  of  strengthening  or  spreading  in 
his  mistaken  zeal. 


DAMiWCOl)    I'KIOKY.  427 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

"  Tlien  I  saw  in  my  dream,  that  in  the  morning  the  shep- 
herd;)  called  up  Christian  and  Hopeful,  to  walk  with  them  upon 
the  niountiins.  So  they  went  forth  with  them,  and  walked 
a  while,  having  a  pleasant  prospect  on  every  side.  Then  said 
the  shepherds  one  to  another,  Shall  we  show  these  pilgrims  some 
wonders  ?  So  when  they  had  concluded  to  do  it,  they  led  them 
first  to  the  top  of  a  hill  called  Error,  which  was  very  steep  on 
the  farthest  side,  and  bid  them  look  down  to  the  bottom. 
So  Christian  and  Hopeful  looked  down,  and  saw  at  the  bottom 
several  men  dashed  all  to  pieces  by  a  fall  which  they  had  from 
the  top.  Then  said  Christian,  What  meaneth  this  ?  •  *  •  * 
Then  said  the  shepherds,  Those  that  you  see  dashed  in  pieces 
at  the  bottom  of  this  mount-\in  are  an  example  to  othere,  to 
take  heed  how  they  clamber  too  high,  or  how  they  come  too 
near  the  brink  of  this  mountain." — Bunyan's  Pilf/rim'ii  Progress. 

But  this  last  resolve  seemed  l)cyoii(l  Lis  jjowc  r 
to  accomplish,  for  the  next  evening  Trevaniiiou 
returned.  It  is,  alas  !  in  our  power  to  do  evil  by 
our  unp^uardcd  conduct  and  precept,  the  extent  of 
whicii  may  be  incalculable,  and  the  oppijitunity 
of  annulling  it  never  be  given.  So  Louis  thought. 
He  could  oidy  hope  in  his  sorrow,  that  he  had 
not  held  these  ojjinions  long  cncnigh,  nor  declared 
them  distinctly  enough,  to  have  made  any  imjjrcs- 
sion;  nor  was  he  aware  how  much  this  was  really 
the  case,  through  an  overruling  Providence;  so 
that  bv  his  congregation  he;  was  consickMcd  to  be 


428  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

entirely  free  from  the  errors  of  his  vicar,  while 
there  Avas  so  much  true  piety  visible  in  all  that 
he  did  and  said,  that  that  only  made  its  impres- 
sion. Among  the  poor  these  erroneous  doctrines 
never  make  much  way.  They  are  not  suited  to 
the  poor,  and  miserable,  and  blind,  and  naked,  to 
those  who  have  been  brought  up  in  sin  and  igno- 
rance, and  to  those  who  have  nothing  in  life  to 
make  them  love  it ;  they  want  something  more 
real  and  solid.  The  refined,  the  intellectual,  the 
poetical,  the  reverential,  the  seriously  minded,  the 
man  of  taste,  and  the  young,  full  of  crude  notions  of 
priestly  authority,  who  love  to  magnify  the  clerical 
office ;  these,  where  there  is  no  vital  religion,  may 
be  ready  to  embrace  them  :  for  there  is  something 
wonderfully  fascinating  to  human  pride  and  under- 
standing therein.  And  there  may  be  some  few  of 
God^s  own  children  who,  through  some  mysterious 
permission  of  the  Almighty,  partially  embrace  this 
system ;  but  we  shall  always  find  it  is  partial : 
there  is  a  something  that  ever  betrays  them  as  in 
the  corruption,  but  not  of  it :  and  such  was 
Nevinson.  His  education,  his  circumstances,  had 
all  been  different  to  Louis' ;  and  perhaps  most  of 
those  things  on  which  they  diftered  were  but 
words,  and  not  matter.  Louis  was  still  learning 
the  same  lessons  he  had  been  receiving  for  four- 
teen years, — that  though  man  may  increase  in  age 
and  learning,  he  cannot  stand  alone.  If  he  thinks 
he  stands,  he  will  assuredly  fall.  If  he  lean  on 
human  understanding,  he  and  his  prop  will  fall 


DASiiwooD  riuoiiY.  429 

together.  He  had  also  learned  another  useful 
lesson  from  his  own  trials  here,  that  "  the  wrath 
of  man  worketh  not  the  righteousness  of  God ;" — 
tliat  "  the  servant  of  the  Lord  must  not  strive, 
but  be  gentle  unto  all  men,  apt  to  teach  in  meek- 
ness, instructing  those  who  oppose  themselves;" 
that  however  much  we  may  differ  on  the  subject 
of  man's  free  will,  wc  arc  constrained  to  use  every 
power  of  persuasion,  every  talent  for  making  our 
lessons  lovely  and  pleasant ;  and  above  all,  every 
effort  to  make  our  lives  speak,  so  that  all  men 
shall  take  knowledge  of  us  that  we  have  been 
with  Jesus,  and  shall  heed  our  words  as  those 
which  come  from  His  disciples, 

Meredith   left   E early   on   the   jNIonday 

morning,  and  as  wc  have  already  said,  Trevannion 
returned  in  the  evening.  Louis  remained  a  week 
longer  at  E ,  during  which  time  some  unplea- 
sant words  passed  between  him  and  Trevannion ; 
the  latter  at  first  desiring  to  secure  Louis'  services 
altogether,  and  on  Louis'  open  avowal  of  his 
opposing  sentiments,  parting  very  coldly  from 
him.  He  was  as  angry  as  he  ever  allowed  him- 
self to  be,  on  hearing  of  Meredith's  preaching  in 
his  church,  as  well  as  at  the  slight  innovations 
made  during  his  absence ;  and  before  Louis  liad 
l)een  a  fortnight  in  his  hai)py  home,  all  was 
restored  to  more  than  its  former  state  of  cold 
solemnity,  and  the  church  nearly  emptied.  Louis 
had  become  again  aecustonu-d  to  his  own  old 
duties,   when   one   day    a  letter   from    Nevinsou 


430  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

arrived,  informing  him  that  Trevannion  had  begun 
to  teach  the  choristers  the  responses  in  Latin, 
and  had  instituted  a  confessional  in  the  church, 
and  that  he  (Nevinson)  was  so  shocked  at  these 
symptoms,  that  he  had  given  up  his  curacy.  Not 
three  weeks  after,  a  paragrapli  in  a  London  paper 
announced  the  fact,  that  the  Reverend  Philip  Tre- 
vannion had  seceded  from  the  Church  of  England, 
and  had  left  E ■  for  Rome.  Another  long- 
letter  from  Nevinson  followed  this  shortly.  He 
expressed  himself  much  shocked  at  the  conclusion 
of  Trevannion's  career,  and  wrote  very  seriously 
and  satisfactorily,  informing  Louis  that  he  had 
lately  known  so  many  perversions  to  Home,  that 
it  had  set  him  thinking  wliether  these  High-church 
principles  were  Bible  principles;  and  he  had  been 
induced,  after  much  prayer  and  examination,  to 
give  up  some  of  his  prejudices  and  practices,  still, 
liowever,  retaining  the  greatest  reverence  and  love 
for  his  own  church.  Louis  thought  often  of,  and 
prayerfully  for  his  old  charge,  longing  to  learn 
wliether  the  new  appointment  was  satisfactorily 
made  in  the  most  important  respect,  and  thinking 
painfully  of  the  poor,  large,  dark  population  in 
its  courts  and  alleys,  often  in  his  anxiety  crying 
out,  "  Oh,  send  out  Thy  light  and  Thy  truth." 

Nearly  two  months  after  Trevannion's  secession, 
to  his  great  astonishment,  an  offer  of  the  living 
to  himself  came  from  the  trustees.  Half-delighted, 
half-afraid,  Louis  opened  his  heart  to  the  Lord, 
before  even  mentioning  the  contents  of  his  letter 


DASHWOOD    PRIORY.  431 

to  his  parents.  After  many  earnest  su])plications 
lor  guidance^  he  accepted  the  hving,  and  not  long 
afterwards  entered  upon  it^  to  the  great  dehght  of 
his  old  people.  And  now  he  began  many  refor- 
mations. There  was  no  curtailing  of  the  services, 
for  Louis  loved  thera,  and  loved  to  invite  others 
to  the  house  of  God  ;  but  the  chancel  was  thrown 
open,  the  choristers  were  divested  of  their  sur- 
plices, a  new  reading-desk  erected  on  a  line  with 
the  pulpit,  and  the  black  robe  substituted  for  the 
surplice  in  the  pulpit.  Louis  was  not  less  careful 
about  the  singing  of  the  church  than  before,  for 
he  riu'htly  looked  upon  it  as  a  very  important  part 
of  the  worship ;  but  he  endeavoured,  and  finally 
in  a  measure  succeeded,  in  establishing  more  con- 
gregational singing.  Missionary  scruions  were 
now  preached  in  the  church,  and  efforts  made  to 
create  a  spirit  of  zeal  among  the  people  for 
assisting  in  the  spreading  of  Christ's  kingdom. 
Quietly,  but  surely,  hanging  upon  his  God,  did 
Louis  work,  endeavouring  to  check  display  and 
religious  dissipation  among  his  flock ;  while  he 
strove,  at  the  saine  time,  to  represent  to  them, 
lliat  the  people  Christ  has  chosen  arc  a  peculiar 
people,  zealous  of  good  works.  These  reforma- 
tions and  this  activity  were  not,  of  course,  effected 
at  once  ;  but  wc  have  the  sure  promise,  and  Louis 
found  it,  that  in  due  season  W(!  shall  rcaj),  if  we 
faint  not. 

Ijouis  in  time  establislicd  a  kind  of  little  lecture 
or  school-room  in  each  court  where  a  vacant  room 


432  DASHWOOD    PRIORY. 

could  be  found,  and  endeavoured  to  rouse  the 
poor  ignorant  miserable  ones  to  something  better, 
by  mixing  himself  as  far  as  he  was  able  with  them, 
and  showing  that  if  he  looked  after  their  worldly 
prosperity,  it  was  with  the  hope  of  leading  them 
to  something  higher;  and  that  if  the  thought  of 
something  higher  had  been  absent,  he  could  never 
have  considered  their  present  wants.  He  much 
desired  to  have  his  friend  Nevinson  with  him ;  but 
that  friend  was  now  comfortably  settled  in  his 
native  place,  and  after  a  time  the  vacant  curacy 
was  fiUed  by  Hubert,  a  younger  brother  of  Frank 
Digby's,  to  whom  Louis  gave  a  title  to  orders. 

About  a  twelvemonth  after  Louis'  final  depar- 
ture from  his  childhood's  home,  the  bells  of 
Dashwood  Church  rang  merrily  for  a  most  im- 
portant event, — the  marriage  of  Miss  Mortimer  to 
Edward  Hamilton,  Esq.,  barrister-at-law.  Louis 
was  there  to  perform  the  ceremony ;  and  a  gay 
wedding  it  was ;  but  it  was  hard  to  say  whether 
tears  or  smiles  prevailed  at  the  departure  of  the 
village  darling,  missed  sadly  as  she  would  be  in 
hall  and  cottage.  Reginald  and  Neville  were 
there,  and  Master  Freddy  performed  the  im- 
portant office  of  groomsmau  to  his  brother-in-law. 
To  Louis  especially  the  new  relationship  was  an 
event  of  unmixed  satisfaction. 

The  last  news  from  old  friends  was,  that  there 

was  a  rumour  at  E and  at  Dashwood,  that 

Mr.  Louis   Mortimer   was  about   to   follow   the 


DASriWOOD    PRTORY.  433 

example  of  his  friend  and  new  brother,  and  tlic 
rumour  daily  f^aius  credit  that  Miss  Fanny  Salis- 
bury is  the  lady  who  has  promised  to  make  our 
hero  happy,  and  to  share  with  him  the  pleasant 
cares  of  his  beloved  office. 

Dashwood  Priory  has  become  a  very  quiet  place. 
Reginald  left  for  the  Cape  almost  immediately  after 
his  sister's  marriage.  Neville  is  settled  iu  London, 
and  only  Freddy  remains  at  home,  to  take  the 
place  which  Louis  first  fdlcd, — that  of  his  father's 
curate.  It  is  ever  thus  in  this  world ;  changes 
and  partings  all  come  to  remind  us  that  we  have 
here  no  continuing  city.  Hapjiy  are  they,  who 
seeking  one  to  come,  have  laid  up  their  treasures 
where  neither  moth  nor  rust  can  corru[)t,  and 
where  thieves  do  not  lircak  through  and  steal. 


THE    KND. 


rnlNTBU    liy   lux    (UROt.)    ANI>    WV.M,\V,    <il<KAT   Ul'KKN    STMKKT 


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li9H9       Dashwood  Prio- 
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U939 


;«iv:.n-;>M5 


